Racing: High fives for stable at home

Candle In the Wind raced home to win at Ruakaka yesterday.

Ruakaka trainers Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs saddled up five winners out of the eight races at their home track of Ruakaka yesterday.

The Logan/Gibbs-trained Rocknrolla claimed the feature event, the Northpine Waipu Cup with Trudy Thornton aboard, the jockey also riding Greencast to victory in the Advance Build Far North ITM Maiden, race three.

In fact, Logan and Gibbs started off by claiming the first three races, saddling up Gold Rose to win the Fell Engineering 3YO maiden with apprentice Ulrika Holmqvist aboard returning punters a decent $22.20 for their dollar in race one.

Candle In the Wind and another apprentice Sam Weatherby won the middle race of the opening hat-trick while the Logan/Gibbs partnership rounded off the day with a win in the last with All Roads ridden by Kelly McCulloch.

Candle In The Wind has an outstanding record on her home track, but connections are likely to forego upcoming opportunities to add to their Ruakaka tally.

The six-year-old's victory there yesterday in the Northbeam Timber Beams, Posts and Joints Handicap was her fifth from nine appearances on the course for Logan and Gibbs.

While there are a number of meetings at Ruakaka over the next two months, Candle In The Wind is more likely to be given a break.

"I might just put her away and then look to the spring, I would love to get some black type for the owners," Logan said.

Candle In The Wind was sent out a warm favourite, but her army of supporters weren't on good terms with themselves for much of the home straight.

The Darci Brahma mare was last on the turn and was hemmed in by Zafrenzy and rider Kelly McCulloch (nee Myers) on the turn before she was finally able to burst between runners to claim top honours.

"What a brave ride by the young man " he was patient and then got the gap," Logan said.

She was referring to Sam Weatherley, who has impressed in his first season of riding.

"I was lucky I could get off heels and then found a small gap," said the 17-year-old, who is apprenticed to Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott.

- NZ Racing Desk.