Another Group One for dynamic duo

Vinnie Colgan and Volkstok’n’barrell returned to their winning ways at Te Rapa to add another prestigious victory to their records.

The Cambridge-based jockey was reunited with the five-year-old on Saturday and the old firm reigned supreme in New Zealand’s richest weight-for-age contest, the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes.

“I haven’t been on him for a little while so it’s great to be back,” said Colgan, who won both the Gr.1 Haunui Farm Classic and the Gr.1 New Zealand Stakes aboard the Tavistock gelding last season.

Colgan didn’t miss a beat on Volkstok'n'barrell at Te Rapa where he settled gelding three back on the fence and they were off the rail before the turn.

“We had a sweet trip and when I pulled him out he picked up nicely,” he said. “He’s a tough horse.”

In a driving finish, they narrowly had the better of the three-year-old Savile Row, who didn’t help his chances by ducking in under pressure.

Volkstok’n’barrell is trained at Ruakaka by Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs and they admitted to savouring a huge degree of satisfaction from the victory.

“It’s just so nice to see him back, he’s such a neat horse,” Logan said.

“This was our plan all the way through, we’re so excited. He’s had his knockers and we’ve kept quiet and now he’s done it.

“He’s had awkward draws, distances that didn’t suit and weights that didn’t measure up, but he was 100 per cent today.”

Logan will let the dust settle before confirming their next move with Volkstok’n’barrell, but another crossing of the Tasman is in the mix.

“We might sneak back to Australia – there are a lot of options over there,” she said.

Savile Row’s performance has him on the $6 second line of betting with Camino Rocoso for the Gr.1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby while Authentic Paddy put in his typically honest effort for third.

In her final race day appearance, the in-foal Abidewithme finished with a flourish from the back for fourth ahead of Consensus.