Hot favourite The Heckler missed out on the top prize in the LJ Hooker Whangarei Spring Plate to Mill Duckie, who ran fresh up after a spell. Trained by Richard Collett of Pukekohe, and ridden by Tasha Collett, Mill Duckie started her year's campaign after recovering from injury with a strongperformance in the Plate, the feature race of Saturday's Whangarei Racing Club's spring meeting, Ruakaka trainer Donna Logan said. Winning the 1200m open handicap worth $25,000 was a good stepping stone for the mare's who will most likely head to Hastings next for more spring racing. Collett rode Mill Duckie across the finish line a neck ahead of Who Knows, with Leith Innes aboard while the Australian-bred The Heckler ridden by Sam Spratt was third by a long head. Logan, who trains alongside Dean Logan and Chris Gibbs at Ruakaka, had a very successful day - from nine starters, only one (Mr Bertarelli) didn't weigh in, she said. "It was a very good day for us," Donna Logan said about her stable's four wins and four minor placings. Recent performer El Presidente ridden by last year's leading jockey James McDonald continued their success, winning the Solo Street 2100m by two lengths, while stablemate Ima Lady also travelled well with McDonald aboard, winning the Northern Advocate Savvy 2100m. McDonald claimed his second win for the day, while jockey Allan Peard also had two wins. Ruakaka Racetrack attracted hundreds of punters for WRC's only spring meeting this season and the 2009 Fashions in the Field Fiesta. Around 200 people packed into the fashion marquee to see the immaculately dressed contestants, Logan said. Racetrack manager Karen Houlihan estimated a crowd of around 1500 at the meeting - less than the club had anticipated. "We didn't get the numbers we expected because it rained all day - numbers were not as good as they would have been in good weather," she said. Whangarei Racing Club's next meeting is on January 5, 2010.
