Volkstock’n’barrell
Trish Dunell
It should be a big week for Ruakaka trainers Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs.
Their proven Group One performer Volkstock'n'barrell produced an encouraging run at the Avondale trials on Tuesday and unbeaten stablemate Hasselhoof will make his Australian debut on Saturday.
Volkstok'n'barrell performed up to expectations when runner-up to Gr.1 Emirates Stakes winner Turn Me Loose in an open 1200m trial at Avondale.
"We were very pleased with him," Logan said. "He was back in the running and made up ground appreciably. It was a good effort.
"He's about 20kg overweight and that will tighten him up. He will take a lot of improvement from the run.
"Matt [rider Matt Cameron] was pleased with him too."
Volkstok'n'barrell will begin a new campaign in the Gr.1 NRM Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 13.
The Tavistock four-year-old has a near impeccable record in New Zealand with five wins and three placings from eight attempts.
He was the runner-up to Mongolian Khan in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby and won the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas in Sydney last autumn, before finishing third in the Gr.1 Australian Derby.
He was below par in Melbourne in the spring, but had an excuse.
"He got asthma and it stuffed him up," Logan said. "He was nowhere near his best."
Logan is uncertain of Volkstock'n'barrell's programme past Te Rap, but there is a "big chance" the horse will race at the Sydney carnival.
Hasselhoof, who travels to Sydney on Wednesday, will contest an A$85,000 open 1600m at Randwick.
The four-year-old, who will carry 58.5kg on Saturday, is unbeaten from six starts and is also scheduled to tackle the Listed Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on February 20. – NZ Racing Desk
Their proven Group One performer Volkstock'n'barrell produced an encouraging run at the Avondale trials on Tuesday and unbeaten stablemate Hasselhoof will make his Australian debut on Saturday.
Volkstok'n'barrell performed up to expectations when runner-up to Gr.1 Emirates Stakes winner Turn Me Loose in an open 1200m trial at Avondale.
"We were very pleased with him," Logan said. "He was back in the running and made up ground appreciably. It was a good effort.
"He's about 20kg overweight and that will tighten him up. He will take a lot of improvement from the run.
"Matt [rider Matt Cameron] was pleased with him too."
Volkstok'n'barrell will begin a new campaign in the Gr.1 NRM Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 13.
The Tavistock four-year-old has a near impeccable record in New Zealand with five wins and three placings from eight attempts.
He was the runner-up to Mongolian Khan in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby and won the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas in Sydney last autumn, before finishing third in the Gr.1 Australian Derby.
He was below par in Melbourne in the spring, but had an excuse.
"He got asthma and it stuffed him up," Logan said. "He was nowhere near his best."
Logan is uncertain of Volkstock'n'barrell's programme past Te Rap, but there is a "big chance" the horse will race at the Sydney carnival.
Hasselhoof, who travels to Sydney on Wednesday, will contest an A$85,000 open 1600m at Randwick.
The four-year-old, who will carry 58.5kg on Saturday, is unbeaten from six starts and is also scheduled to tackle the Listed Parramatta Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on February 20. – NZ Racing Desk