Mosquito Flies Home in City of Auckland Cup

Lightly tried stayer Mosquito (NZ) (Golan) prevailed in the biggest test of his short career with victory in the Group 2 $100,000 Scot Thrust City of Auckland Cup (2400m) yesterday at Ellerslie.

Mosquito (NZ) triumphant in the Group 2 Scot Thrust City of Auckland Cup at Ellerslie.

The five-year-old gelding was having his fifteenth start for trainers Donna & Dean Logan and entered the race following an encouraging seventh placing in the Group 3 Waikato Cup where the horse was seen running on well late.

Ridden by leading rider James McDonald, who is briefly back from Australia, Mosquito jumped awkwardly from barrier 5 but recovered to race mid-field in the capacity 18-horse race that was run at an even pace.

The Golan gelding was taken to the outside of the track by McDonald in the straight and produced a strong sprint to chase down the leaders and just get up on the line to win by a nose over fellow Karaka graduate Chaparrone (NZ) (High Chaparral) with Storming the Tower (NZ) (Storm Creek) a close third half-a-length away.

“I thought he would run a nice race, his work had been indicating he would so I thought he might run a place. We are on target for March (Auckland Cup),” said Donna Logan.

“We were aided by a brilliant ride by James (McDonald) but at the winning post I thought we had actually run second. He really hits the line strong and James got off and said ‘you have got a good horse here, he is good’ and was very excited.

“We trained Tin Goose who ran a place in the Auckland Cup and that is what directed me into buying him. I said to the guys that are in the ownership that you are not going to have an early horse, you will have to wait for him but he is the sort of horse that could win an Auckland Cup.

“The owners went in with their eyes wide open and were happy to wait, they have been very good owners with him. I am very lucky with him that we didn’t push the buttons too early and it has paid off now.”

It was the fifth victory in 15 starts for Mosquito and first at stakes level. The win took the five-year-old’s earnings to $99,410 for his owners Donna Logan, S Scott & Ashley Goodwin.

Bred by Dr J L Sprague, Mosquito was purchased by Donna Logan Racing Stables at the 2010 Karaka Select Sale for $52,500 from Phoenix Park. The son of Golan is out of Tiger Moth (Sky Chase) and is a half-brother to well-performed Sydney stayer Twin Wing (Istadaad) and is also a half-brother to Group 1 Auckland Cup placegetter Tin Goose (Pentire).

The stable of Donna & Dean Logan also enjoyed another Group 2 success on the day with Rising Romance (NZ) (Ekraar) winning the Group 2 New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes.