Sent out a dominant favourite in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance
Karaka 3YO Mile, the son of Tavistock never gave his many supporters cause for
concern as jockey Matt Cameron took bad luck out of play early in the race.With just six runners contesting the event it always looked like developing into a tactical affair so Cameron took the initiative by jumping to the lead from his inside barrier draw. He allowed race rival Woodsman to take over pacemaking duties with around 800 metres to run before slipping up alongside him as they approached the home bend.
Cameron gave Volkstok'n'barrell his head at the 300 metre mark as his main rival Rockfast looked to issue a stern challenge. As with their last meeting on New Year's Day, the two settled down to fight it out however this time Rockfast began to drift to the middle of the track as he wilted under the pressure applied by his rival. At the post Volkstok'n'barrell was a comfortable one and three quarter lengths to the good of the chasing pack as he recorded a pedestrian 1.37.10 for the 1600 metre journey.
"He is absolutely thriving at the moment and he is quite a handful," said Logan after the race.
"He was that fresh and keen today he was pig-rooting while we trying to load him onto the truck so there will be plenty of improvement in him.
"We knew it would be quite a tactical event but he had led when he won his maiden at Ruakaka so Matt and I agreed we would take it up early if the opportunity was there."
Logan will now follow the same path she has successfully taken in recent years with 2013 Derby winner Habibi and last year's runner-up Rising Romance, with the gelding set to have his final Derby lead-up run in the Gr. 2 Avondale Guineas on the 14th of February.
TAB Bookmakers reacted immediately after the race by shortening the winner to a clear $2.50 favourite on the Fixed Odds market for the blue riband event which will be held at Ellerslie on the 28th of February. - NZ Racing Desk
