Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Live sport this Sunday on SNLogan runner kicks off his winning roll at Rotorua
Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING NZ News desk • July 19th, 2025 8:45 pm
Jelly Roll winning the Macmillan Accountants (1215m) Maiden 3YO at Rotorua on Saturday | Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
A well timed run by rider Michael McNab aboard the lightly raced Jelly Roll paved the way for the four-year-old to break his maiden status in spectacular style at Rotorua on Saturday.
The Samantha Logan-trained and owned son of Swiss Ace was having just his third start and had looked a galloper of some promise when finishing fourth in both of those efforts.
With the Heavy 10 rated Rotorua track expected to play in favour of those handy to the pace for the first few races, the chances of Jelly Roll appeared to be in jeopardy when he flopped out of the barrier and settled in the last three for McNab.
Even approaching the 600m when McNab asked for an effort to circle the field, the gelding looked to have his work cut out for him as the free-going Brego was pinging along in front with race favourite Litteral and the well supported Zerre hot on his tail rounding the home bend.
McNab didn’t give up though as Jelly Roll found a nice strip of ground out in the middle of the track and he powered home in the closing stages to grab Litteral right on the line to post his first victory.
Logan was thrilled with the performance after making the tough decision to start in the shorter maiden 1215m contest as opposed to the maiden 1400m one race later.
“It was a last minute decision and a hard one to make, but I rang Ralph Manning and he said go race one so I have Ralph to thank,” Logan said.
“I was a bit worried when he walked out of the gates as he probably needed the 1400m but that is why Michael is the best as he didn’t panic, brought him to the outside and he finished off really well.
“I’ve always been happy with the horse as he such a neat little horse to have around and we have made him a bit of a pet.
“It has just taken a little while for the penny to drop with him.”
McNab was succinct in his summing up of the race.
“They went along at a nice even clip and didn’t take the speed out of the race at any time,” he said.
“That meant I was able to be really strong late in the piece on a very heavy track.”
Out of the Captain Rio mare Icing On The Cake, Jelly Roll comes from an extended family that includes Group One performers Legs, Sixty Seconds and Guyno. - LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
