Racing: All Roads, Prom Queen power to wins

Donna Logan-trained All Roads took out the Windsor Park Stud Japan-New Zealand International Trophy in Tauranga. Photo/Trish Dunell

All Roads banked a healthy cheque for his connections at Tauranga with part of those winnings to almost certainly be used to cover an overseas trip later this year.

The genuine 5-year-old powered to a deserved victory and the thick end of the $100,000 stake in Saturday's Windsor Park Stud Japan-New Zealand International Trophy and a performance to all but confirm plans for Queensland.

"Brisbane's not a bad place to be in the winter time and it's nice when they've already paid their way," said Donna Logan, who trains All Roads with Chris Gibbs.

"The money there is very good and he's quite versatile, I think he will get over more ground."

All Roads had finished runner-up in three of his previous four starts, including an unlucky run when cramped for room in the Group 2 Rich Hill Mile.

"He should have won that - he's a very good horse," Logan said. "My biggest concern today was the track and he only just coped with it."

All Roads was given time to find his feet and he improved near the turn before rider Kelly McCulloch cut loose on the son of Road To Rock in the straight.

"He travelled beautifully and we got a nice run through the field, if anything he got to the front too soon," she said.

The topweight Scapolo powered home down the outside to finish runner-up with his fellow central districts visitor Beefeater making a good fist of his open class debut with his effort for third.

McCulloch has now won five races on All Roads and she had predicted a top future for the gelding after she was successful in a Rating 65 race on him last July.

"I thought he was something special," she said. "He's got some gears and he gave me a really good feel."

Speed merchant Prom Queen is on target to collect the second black type victory of her fledgling career.

Successful in the Listed Welcome Stakes in the spring, the daughter of Super Easy has the Listed Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes as her autumn goal.

Prom Queen showed she was in good touch for that May 6 feature when she burned off her rivals in Saturday's Selwyn Rakaia Vets 2YO to remain unbeaten in three appearances at Riccarton.

She crossed from the outside gate to make the running and she proved far too slick under regular rider Alysha Collett in the straight.

"Alysha said before the race that the filly doesn't like getting headed so I said to go to the front if you can," said Kenny Rae, who trains Prom Queen with his wife Lisa and their daughter Krystal Williams.

Prom Queen was coming off a previous third when resuming after a break at Wingatui, the first defeat of her career.

"I didn't think she was a definite winner there and it was still a good run," Rae said. "She was only beaten a length or so."

Prom Queen travelled comfortably in front for Collett on Saturday and needed little persuasion to account for Sensei, who remains in the mix for next weekend's Group 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes and Kiwi Ida.

"She's quite competitive when she finds the rail," Collett said. "She gets into a good rhythm and she gave me a really good kick."

- NZ Racing Desk