Racing: Gibbs quits training for truck driving

Ruakaka trainer Donna Logan has saddled more winners than most at nearby Dargaville.

Yet any success she gets at her Northland neighbour today is going to feel a little weird.

For the first time in seven years, training partner Chris Gibbs won't be around to celebrate with her.

Gibbs left the successful partnership with Logan and Dean Logan just a few days ago to drive big-rig truck and trailers, based in Konnongorring, two hours northeast of Perth.

"It is pretty awful to see such a great, talented horseman lost to the industry, but for not one minute did I try and talk him out of it," said Donna Logan yesterday.

With a reputed starting salary of A$85,000, Logan knew she didn't stand a chance.

"It's very hard to survive and make money in racing now, and, unfortunately, with the way racing's going in this country with stake levels dropping, he didn't see much of a future.

"I know how hard it is for me to keep the whole thing going. By the time you've paid the GST, ACC and PAYE, there's not a lot to come and go on."

When you've been part of an operation for so long, however, Logan knows it will be hard for Gibbs to cut ties completely.

He rang her from the airport on Saturday before he flew out to congratulate the stable on its two Rotorua winners, Asgoodasitgets and Uncle Shayne.

Logan is hopeful of sending Gibbs equally good news today.

She rates James McDonald's mount Mes Yeux Bleus (race one) her best early chance.

Logan said she should cope with the track, yesterday rated as heavy (10), particularly if there are a few showers to keep it loose.

The Montjeu 5-year-old has trained on well since her first-up third over 1600m and won second-up at Pukekohe over 2100m the same time last year.

Promising filly Perfect Katch (race two) is also a winning chance in her first race since November.

She's got another wide alley - Logan scratched her from a recent Ruakaka meeting for the same reason - but on a heavy surface her trainers are banking on that being the best place to start.

Logan can't tell punters a lot about first-starter Writteninthestars in the same race; a pre-trainer has handled most of her preparation so far.

But she thinks the trials performer should handle the ground, particularly with the aid of Harry Kasim's 2kg allowance.

Pure Platinum (race seven) is Logan's bet of the day from the stable.

She resumed with an encouraging fast-closing third at Matamata over 1200m, a distance short of her best.

Over 1400m and with underfoot conditions to suit, Logan has her ready to strike for McDonald.

The pair should also be tough to beat in leg five of the $40,000 Pick6 with Tart N Tartan.

The Black Minnaloushe filly loves bad ground - she was an impressive winter maiden winner last August - and is fitter for her recent run at Matamata over 1200m.