Racing: Festival meeting lures the crowds

Hasselhoof, ridden by Samantha Collett, on the inside and Volkstok-n-barrel, ridden by Opie Bosson, put on an exhibition run at Ruakaka Raceway. Photo / John Stone

Ruakaka Racecourse was stretched to capacity as many families enjoyed the relaxed racing atmosphere and activities for the Interislander Summer Festival race meeting.

With the More FM Kids Go Racing Zone, Caro's Crazy Critters petting zoo and the Interislander Tug of War, there was plenty of off-track entertainment for the sizeable crowd.

Whangarei Racing Club general manager Bill Colgan said the attendance was one of the largest in memory.

"One life member of the club commented that it was the biggest crowd he had seen since opening day more than 30 years ago," he said.

"To make the day work the club is reliant on, and much appreciates, the work of the volunteers from the Mid-Western Lions Charitable Trust, in conjunction with Onerahi Lions, Bream Bay College and Swimming Club, One Tree Point Pony Club, Ruakaka Surf Life Saving, Pulse Dance Group, Ruakaka Volunteer Fire Service and Waipu Highland Dancing, who all help with the car parking, gates, bars, office and clean-up as fundraising for their community group."

The Dean Logan Winners Circle was full to capacity after the big team of owners in Tavidream squeezed into the room to celebrate with sponsor Alan Barlow from The Homestead Sports Bar and Bistro in Kerikeri.

At only its second start this Tavistock gelding proved he deserved to be the hottest favourite on the day and looks to be capable of bigger things by time the autumn Auckland carnival arrives.

The Logan/Gibbs team's two other winners in Rockabyebaby and Bruce Arthur were also strong performers who will win again.

Bruce Arthur continues to display a dogged attitude to racing when he responded strongly when tackled late in the Radius Rimu Park-Leaders In Aged Care rating 65 handicap over 1600 metres.

Also impressive for the same stable was the fast-finishing Jake The Muss who is part-owned by local identities including Matt Mathias and is one to put in the diary for a future race.

The Tony Pike stable produced a smart filly in Sacred Dream who, despite drifting in betting, won the NZ Insurance Pearl Series Maiden under a strong ride from leading hoop Leith Innes.

A double of wins was a tiny margin away when its other runner, Needlepoint, just failed to hold out Hi Gorgeous in the Trigg Construction maiden.

Riding honours for the day were shared with Mark Du Plessis and 17-year-old apprentice Ryan Elliot, both riding a double each.

The 2-year-old winner of the Cambridge Stud Stallions Maiden was Florence Jean, the biggest-margin winner winning by more than four lengths.