Ruakaka races worth a punt

I'm in Whangarei reporting for The Northern Advocate for the week and I'm unfamiliar with the area.

As part of my familiarisation the chief reporter sent me out to the Ruakaka Races with $20 petty cash in hand to place a bet on a horse.

And I was in luck. Punters directed me to Robert Logan, son of famed Northland trainer Donna Logan and the late Dean Logan, to help me with my bet.

He advised me that Wyndspelle, which his mother trains, was a good bet for the second race of the day and I put $10 each way on the horse.

As luck would have it, Wyndspelle came in second, and I won my $20 back. It was my first time betting on the gallops and I know now to make sure I get some good tips from somebody in the know.

Following the race, Donna Logan said Wyndspelle made a good effort, working hard all the way.

She said she'd been happy with his progress and he would continue to improve.

Her well-known horse Hasselhoof also paraded at the event by request so racegoers could take photos.

Hasselhoof took Ellerslie by storm on New Year's Day adding the group 2 Rich Hill Mile to his unbeaten record. The boom 4-year-old with his own Facebook and Twitter accounts stretched his perfect record to six.