Not once in 13 previous starts had Logo Logic encountered anything beyond a soft 5, with most of runs being on either good or synthetic tracks.

His first outing on the heavy could not have panned out any better, with the gelding showing plenty of toughness and newfound confidence to claim a fighting benchmark 58 win over the 1112m trip.

On the back-up from a handy third at St Arnaud on October 24 and with the services of Christine Puls in the saddle, Logo Logic showed no sign of the troublesome feet issues that have plagued his career so far.

Speaking post-race, co-trainer Ashley McKnight admitted to heading down the road to Kyneton with confidence.

"I galloped him on Monday and I thought he worked really well," he said.

"I was happy with his run at St Arnaud, he just got posted a bit wide. And St Arnaud is a tricky track too, you need to be on speed and on the rail and there's not too many horses who can find a nice spot.

"This horse has horrendous soundness issues - I have a lot of trouble with his feet.

"This is the absolute best I have had him in two years.

"I was quietly confident about St Arnaud, but it just didn't pan out. (On Friday) the wet track was never going to be an issue, I thought that was going to be up his alley with those feet problems.

"And barrier one - make your own luck - and a great ride from Christine."

It was the second win of Logo Logic's career from 12 starts. He previously broke his maiden at start number two on the Ballarat synthetic in May last year.

The McKnights could consider themselves a touch unlucky not to have added a few more wins, with the gelding twice finishing in the minor placings and on four occasions having to have settled for fourth.

They are hoping Logo Logic's feet issues might now be a thing of the past.

"While he's sound and racing well, we'll press on," Ashley Mcknight said.

"He's going to gain a few (ratings) points, but he's probably still a (benchmark) 58.

"He's probably a horse an apprentice can ride too because he does make his own running - he's not difficult to ride, so you have those options as well."

Puls, who has ridden more winners for the McKnights than any other jockey, said she had always felt confident throughout the race.

"When I asked him for an effort at the 400m, he really dug in deep," she said.

"Even halfway down the straight he had a think about it and then the other horse came and he's gone again.

"He's been working good, so it's nice to see him put it all together.

"The ability has always been there, but he's just had a lot of issues through his time. To put him on a soft track and find he likes it, it's great."

A good day at Kyneton for the McKnights, who currently have a dozen horses in work, included a third with their other runner, the rejuvenated Hot Seat.

Ashley McKnight said the eight-year-old had been a bit of a revelation for the stable.

"He's won six races at 1200m or less and then he's won a race at 1400m and then his first go at 1800m he ran second (at Horsham in October)," he said.

"The sprinter is turning into a stayer and has found a new lease of life at eight-years old.

"He's been a great horse - ultra-consistent and tries really hard.

"Thanks to Christine (Puls), she suggested we try him out over further and his first go at a mile he ran second."

Another horse the stable has good hopes for is their stayer in the making Oak Bridge.

The four-year-old gelding looked good in breaking his maiden over 1600m at Ballarat in April this year and resumed from a spell with a second at Echuca over 1600m on Melbourne Cup day before a fourth over 1600m at Donald on Sunday.

"He was very tough first-up - he carried a pretty big weight, 63kg - he was just unlucky not to win," he said.

"The horse who beat him never left the fence and had the weight pull on him as well.

"He's by Night Of Thunder and is going to get 2000m and beyond. He has a fantastic owner Tom Shearer, who is up in Newcastle.

"I'm really looking forward to getting this horse going over the summer. I kind of envisage getting him into those 2040m races at The Valley on Friday nights.

"He makes his own luck. He'll sit forward and he's pretty tough. I'm really looking forward to his prep as I am with all our team.

"From now up until Christmas, I think we can have a lot of fun."

Meanwhile, the stable's runner in Sunday's $70,000 Donald Cup, the former Group 2 placegetter Savoie finished sixth behind Portland Jimmy, who claimed his fourth country cup in little over 12 months for Ballarat trainer Patrick Payne.

The McKnights will have one runner at Sandown on Wednesday, with last month's Horsham winner Mark's Line lining up in a benchmark 64 over 1600m.

READ MORE:

McKnights buzzing after Hot Seat win

Stayer in the making Oak Bridge impresses McKnights and Puls

Mark's Line looks a promising stayer in the making

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