Racing: Logan's heroes deliver HB Guineas win

FASCINATING: Ruakaka trainer Donna Logan, with HB Racing stalwart Mick Ormond, enjoys the emotional ride after Mongolian Falcon (Leith Innes) won the HB Guineas today. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

Jockey Leith Innes had dismounted from third-placed Mongolian Falcon in a 1200m race of the Makfi Challenge Stakes in August and told trainer Donna Logan to bring the 3-year-old Bay colt back to Hastings and he would win.

Innes kept to his word today when he powered the Logan and Chris Gibbs co-trained horse to a resounding five-length victory in $100,000 group 2 Sacred Falls HB Guineas.

Despite Innes' ups and downs with champion Kawi in the Windsor Park Plate, the second leg of the Bostock New Zealand Spring Racing Carnival a fortnight ago, Logan said they never doubted Innes' instincts in the 1400m race for 3-year-olds.

"He's big race rider and he knows what he's talking about so he's a good judge of the horse," she said, revealing they had discussed preparing Mongolian Falcon at home rather than injecting him in another race before today.

The Andrew Baker and Andrew Forsman co-trained Jon Snow (Danielle Johnson) was second, 5.5 lengths ahead of Australian horse Heroic Valour (Matthew Cameron).

Hastings trainer John Bary would have been delighted with the fourth placing of O'Reilly's Choice (Johnathan Parkes) while Wyndspelle (Vinnie Colgan) came in fifth to make it a lucrative race for Ruakaka pair Logan and Gibbs.

Logan acknowledged it was a very good field with several unbeaten horses in the equation, including Stephen Marsh-trained Ugo Foscolo who, like Mongolian Falcon, are bound for the Sothys 44th New Zealand 2000 Guineas in Riccarton Park.

"There was obviously always going to be favouritism but we were very confident coming in with our horse today."

The underdog status sat quite comfortably with Logan because it meant no pressure on their combination.

"You know, you're not here for a picnic. We're here to compete from far," she said, resplendent in her black ensemble and a signature orange fascinator to show she was there to conduct business.

"It was very comfortable [win]," she said. "That's amazing because they [horses] have travelled a long way and weighed in so I'm very happy with them."

Logan said Mongolian Falcon rolled along in front and probably got a better feel for the track than Wyndspelle on a day that rained briefly in the morning for a slow 8 surface with an overcast outlook.

"Wyndspelle wasn't very comfortable in the conditions so it was nice to have both horses here and have them both weighed in."

While they had forked out close to $150,000 for Mongolian Falcon in Sydney she didn't necessarily adhere to the edict of "you have to spend money to make money".

"It doesn't mean the more you spend the better they are. Sometimes you can spend only $5000 and it's just as good a horse.

"But the Fastnet Rock [Australia] horses are very sought after and they are smart horses," she said of the colt out of Amazing Beauty (Ireland).

Asked how she would celebrate, a beaming Logan replied: "I'd like to go home, put my slippers on, pour some wine, get some takeaways and just chill out."