Durham Town (NZ) a Star in the Making

The talented sprinter Durham Town (NZ) has confirmed his status as a star in the making after producing a brilliant performance to win Saturday's Group 2 The Aussie Butcher Concorde Handicap (1200m) at Ellerslie.

Trained by Donna & Dean Logan and ridden by jockey Jason Collett in the Group 2 sprint, Durham Town (Falkirk x Durham Walk) took the lead in the race despite pre-race plans to tuck in behind the leaders.

After traveling well in transit, Collet kept the four-year-old honest in the straight and, without serious urging, held on to record a classy half-length win from fellow New Zealand Bloodstock graduates Upsala (Oratorio) and Rough Odds (Stravinsky), giving NZB the race trifecta.

A horse that has only raced on seven occasions, Durham Town's impressive performance was matched in the race sectionals, running the last 600 metres in a hot 33.83 seconds.

Windsor Park Stud's young sire Falkirk

The winner of five of his seven starts, Durham Town broke his maiden at Ellerslie in his second start and has recorded all five of his race victories on the Ellerslie track. The son of Falkirk will have a chance to improve on that impressive record as he holds a nomination for the Group 1 Blandford Lodge Railway Stakes (1200m) on New Year's day.

He also holds a nomination for another of New Zealand's premier sprints, the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap in late January where he could face eight-time Group 1 winner Mufhasa.

By Windsor Park Stud's young sire Falkirk, Durham Town is the first stakes winner for the internationally performed sprinter. With 33 winners on the track in five countries thus far, Falkirk has a winners to runners ratio of over 80% in Australia, headlined by the unbeaten mare Aqualin.

Bred by Peter and Debbie Seebeck, Durham Town is raced by his trainers in conjunction with Jim Gibbs, Paul Collins, David Wale and ex All Black coach John Hart.

"An absolute standout yearling," according to Logan, the four-year-old was purchased by Donna Logan from Nerobella Lodge at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2009 Karaka Select Sale for $43,000. He has now won over $107,000 in his short career.