LOGAN RACING IN THE NEWS
Article courtesy of The Informant:
Logans’ Karaka luck keeps them coming back by Wally O’Hearn
The Ruakaka stable of Donna and Dean Logan will be attempting to add to a fine strike-rate when bidding at the National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
As Donna Logan admits, the stable doesn’t have the budget to compete with the high-flyers in the Premier Session and concentrates on the Select and Festival sales. They are wells which have uncovered plenty of treasures for the Logans and their owners over the years, so why not dip in again.
“We’ve had a lot of luck buying from Karaka over the years and we’ll be there again,” said Donna Logan. “With the stake-money on offer in New Zealand it’s difficult to spend a lot of money on yearlings.
“There’s got to be an upside for owners to sell on so that’s why we’ve concentrated on the Select and Festival sessions. There’s still value for money for the owners.”
Like most trainers, the Logans usually approach sales with the intention to speculate a few horses to later syndicate, but it’s going to be different this time round.
“We won’t be speculating like we have in the past,” said Logan. “With the strength of the New Zealand dollar, we prefer to have orders. We’ve got some loyal clients and, obviously, we welcome new clients.
“Potential new clients should be aware they won’t be charged a buying fee if they get us to act on their behalf and eventually train the horses.”
The Logans’ profile was boosted significantly earlier this year by the deeds of the exciting three-year-old Habibi. The Ekraar filly was beaten just once on New Zealand soil in seven starts, with her crowning glory coming in the Gr. 1 TV3 NZ Derby at Ellerslie in March.
In two Sydney starts she then finished third in the Gr. 1 Vinery Stud Stakes and fourth in the Gr. 1 ATC Oaks, in which suffered a hairline fracture of the pastern but the sale was still made to United States interests and she is set to enter the stable of Dan Blacker to be prepared for the winter-spring meeting at Santa Anita.
Habibi was responsible for almost half of the $1.23 million picked up in New Zealand in stake-money last season by the Logan stable, which finished seventh on the trainers’ premiership with 50 wins.
“Her success contributed to us getting some new clients. She flew a big flag for us,” said Donna Logan. “On the strength of Habibi, John Carter sent us Rising Romance (Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial winner) to train. She’s an exciting three-year-old filly.”
But long before Habibi appeared on the scene the Logan stable was attracting owners with a steady stream of winners, including Good Faith (1997 Ellerslie Sires’ Produce Stakes), Zabeat (2006 Wellington Cup, second in the Auckland and Sydney Cups), Victory Smile (2002 Metropolitan Handicap) and The Mighty Finn (1999 Counties Cup).
Victory Smile was one of the Logans’ steals at Karaka, being bought for a mere $3,000 in 1998. “I just spotted him in the back parade ring and being so cheap we took a punt on him,” said Logan. “I didn’t have time to go through our usual process with him.”
That process starts with Palmerston North pedigree analysis Phillip Jefferies singling out suitable lots to add to any the Logans like. Noted form student Gary Cossey then steps in and does his part delving into the form of the dams and close relations, and it’s then the vet’s job to eliminate problems and x-ray issues.
“I just come in and go for the horse on type and it all seems to come together well,” said Logan. “Now and again, like the Victory Smile case, we take a gamble on a cheapie but usually we stick to the process.”
Since the 2005 Karaka sales the Logan stable has bought a total of 83 yearlings for an aggregate of $2,062,000 and an average of just over $24,843. And in that time there have been some impressive results.
The Logans spent $256,000 in 2005 on 11 yearlings, with the purchases including Keepem, who cost $15,000 and ran fourth in the New Zealand Derby before being sold for $800,000. The trans-Tasman black-type winner Jazzella, a $40,000 buy, also came from that sale and won six races and over $350,000 in stakes.
Castle Heights ($18,000) was one of 11 bought the following year and $800,000 was turned down for him. He won six races, including the Listed Grafton Cup, and more than $320,000 and was third in both the Auckland and Waikato Cups.
The 2006 also sale saw a $32,000 purchase turned into a $300,000 sale to Hong Kong. But an even better result came from the 10 yearlings purchased in 2008, with Bally Duff bought for $110,000 and after two seconds sold for $1 million.
The 12 Logan purchases in 2009 uncovered sprinting star Durham Town, who cost $43,000 from the Festival catalogue and has won over $300,000, including this season’s Gr. 3 Stewards’ Stakes at Riccarton.
“I was going to inspect another horse when he caught my eye. I loved him,” recalled Logan. “And that same year I bought Magic Briar for $9,000 for her owner but he then transferred her to Ken Kelso’s stable.”
The Logans now hold high hopes for Auckland Cup candidate Mosquito, a $52,500 purchase from the 2010 Karaka sale. “We only bought five that year and Ishimine (five wins) and Thorny Chick (two wins from four starts before sold to Australia) were others,” said Logan.
Candle In The Wind, King Zeus and Righteo were part of the six Logan purchases in 2011 and high hopes are held for some of the seven secured the following year, namely Derby prospect Stand Your Ground, Ngatira Gold, Thornbird Lass and a Bel Danoro filly.
At the last round of National Yearling Sales the Logans bought 11 lots, including a Mastercraftsman-Dashing Donna filly for $60,000, a couple of Tavistocks, a Buffalo Man, an Edenwold colt and a Sakhee’s Secret colt. “They are all shaping up well,” said Logan.
Rising Romance pictured here during the finish of the Group 2, NZ Bloodstock Royal Stakes. Photo courtesy of Ropati Photography.
Mosquito pictured here on the outer winning a tight finish in the Group 2, City of Auckland Cup. Photo courtesy of Ropati Photography.
