Racing: Stock rises in group one win

Donna Logan won't be rushed into making a decision on the immediate future of Volkstok'n'barrell.

For the moment, the Ruakaka trainer is happy to bask in the glory of the four-year-old's return to top form in yesterday's group one Haunui Farm WFA Classic at Otaki.

"It's a long trip for him and I just want get him home and see how he is," said Logan, who prepares the son of Tavistock with Chris Gibbs.

"We're very proud of the horse and it's all about him so we'll make a decision in due course."

It was a victory that brought both delight and relief after a frustrating spring in Melbourne where Volkstok'n'barrell was below par after suffering from an asthma-related complaint.

The gelding returned home for a break and Logan was quietly confident of a bold showing after his first-up run for sixth at Te Rapa.

"He did a lot of work in the race and he was still fat," Logan said. "I thought he would at least be a top three chance today."

Volkstok'n'barrell settled midfield and one off the fence at Otaki and he didn't need much encouragement from rider Vinnie Colgan to hit top gear in the straight to account for Julinsky Prince and Scapolo.

"It was a top effort from the horse, a top effort from Vinnie and a top effort from my team," Logan said. "The gaps opened up in the straight, it was perfect."

The group one Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes looms as a possible option for Volkstok'n'barrell, but the Ellerslie event has been ruled out for his stablemate Hasselhoof.

"I'm not 100 percent happy with him so he's gone out for a spell," Logan said. "It's nothing major, just a few immaturity issues and smoke can turn to fire if you press ahead."

NZ Racing Desk.