KRANJI RUNNERS PREVIEW
With a quiet weekend for the Logan Racing team in New
Zealand, the Singapore team is starting to fire up with 5 runners engaged across the weekend at Kranji. Off the back of Donna claiming her third
Singaporean winner on the 24th August, she and the team are as
hungry as ever to strike again this weekend, as they present a number of
quality horses who are capable of winning.
Friday 7
September - Kranji
Race 1 – No. 13 HIPPO
VENTURA – Alysha Collett
The son of Iffraaj will run in the Class 5 1600m ($20,000)
on the Polytrack. HIPPO VENTURA recently joined the stable off the back of a
win (1 July). Having his first start with us after a 6 week gap between runs and
stepping straight from 1200m to 1600m he was very brave in running third (19 August).
HIPPO VENTURA drew gate 6 on this occasion and was able to find a nice position
in behind the speed where Alysha was able to present him with a run where he
ground to the line nicely. He has taken natural improvement from his last run
and should again appreciate the 1600m of Friday’s assignment. Alysha Collett
will continue her association with the 8YO gelding, and they have come up with
gate 10 of fourteen, he will carry 55.5KG. Unfortunately, at this stage, HIPPO
VENTURA is the first emergency for this race, Donna is confident that should he
make the field, he is more than capable of once again running in the top three.
HIPPO VENTURA
third last start (19 August): https://bit.ly/2MRBN003
Race 2 – No. 8 QIJI
COMMANDER – Craig Grylls
The restricted maiden ($85,000) over 1200m on the Polytrack
will see this son of Helmet have his first start as a 3YO. QIJI COMMANDER
was last seen on the 15th June in an open 2YO 1200m which was won by
the very impressive LIM’S LIGHTNING,
a subsequent Group 2 winner. He finished 9th on this occasion,
however, his run had more merit than the form reads. He drew gate one that day
and was given a lovely run just behind the speed, however, his lack of
experience saw him race a bit too keenly and that simply dulled his finish. He
managed to fight on where he finished 7.3 lengths behind a runaway winner (who
was 4 lengths ahead of the 2nd horse). This race looks like a very
open affair and if QIJI COMMANDER can produce an effort similar to what he
showed in his first trial in Singapore, he should go very close on Friday
night. Drawn in barrier 2 of nine, where Craig Grylls will retain the ride at
57KG. QIJI COMMANDER is a horse that has always shown of plenty of ability and
should be very competitive in this.
QIJI COMMANDER ninth
on debut (15 June): https://bit.ly/2wOH5i1
Race 4 – No. 7 GEB
WARRIOR – Craig Grylls
This 4YO gelding by Your Song will be stepping out for the
stable for the first time on Friday night as he takes his place in the Open
Maiden ($20,000) over 1600m on the Polytrack. GEB WARRIOR is a very lightly
tried horse who has had just the two race day starts so far, with his best
performance being a 4th (13 April). A horse that is owned by the
powerhouse Titanium Racing Stable, he has had two trials over 1000m since joining us and hasn’t shown a lot.
However, the step straight to 1600m should suit the big horse. This race will
help Donna and Graeme further learn what is the best way to get GEB WARROIR to
perform, otherwise he is a horse that could see his future racing in Malaysia.
Drawn nicely in gate 3 of fourteen, Craig Grylls will be aboard at 57.5KG.
GEB WARRIOR running
4th (13 April): https://bit.ly/2MS0v0y
Race 4 – No. 8
SHAHBAA – CC Wong
The other stable representative in the Open Maiden ($20,000)
over 1600m is the Road to Rock gelding SHAHBAA. Owned by leading stable
Al-Arabiya, he has been to the races on three occasions, two of which for the
stable. His Singaporean debut (15 July)
was somewhat disappointing on face value, however, the 1200m on the short
course was always going to be a challenge for him. He was then sent over 1400m
last start (5 August) where he was a long way back in the running and
absolutely flew home late to go down by 0.3 lengths. The shorter straight of
the Polytrack is not ideal considering he took all of the long-course straight
to wind up last start, however, he is stepping up to a more suitable trip of
1600m on Friday. The team is very happy with his work since that race and he
has the services of reigning champion apprentice CC Wong who will claim the
1KG, meaning SHAHBAA will carry 56.5KG from barrier 1 of fourteen. Should
SHAHBAA run up to his latest race day appearance, there is no reason he can’t
run past this field to score.
SHAHBAA second
last start (5 August): https://bit.ly/2oO5MaY
Sunday 9
September - Kranji
R5 – No. 1 GREEN STAR – WS Chan
The sole stable runner for the day runs in the Novice 1200m
($85,000) on the Polytrack. The lightly raced Iffraaj 5YO made his debut in New
Zealand for Donna’s daughter Samantha, he had two promising starts in New
Zealand. He was among the first shipment of Logan Racing runners to arrive in
Singapore and, gave Donna her very first training success in Singapore at only
her 3rd starter (27 April). GREEN STAR will jump from barrier 8 of
thirteen, carrying 55KG after the 3KG apprentice claim, where stable
apprentice, WS Chan takes the reigns.
GREEN STAR was having his first run for 10 weeks last start (5
August), where he drew gate 10, was caught 3 and 4 wide the trip under the top
weight of 58KG, he ran a game race to battle on into 6th. GREEN STAR
is in a very competitive race on Sunday where he is giving weight to handy
horses, so the 3KG claim will be very beneficial. A horse that will appreciate
the month gap between runs, GREEN STAR has the ability to go very close in this
and with a bit of luck he should be competitive. GREEN STAR has progressed very
promisingly since his last race. Having only the 5 starts to date, his best
racing is still ahead of him. He is a horse that is very capable of going
through the grades in Singapore. The more racing, he does, the better he will
be as he will only mature further into the quality horse we know he is.
GREEN STAR sixth last start (5 August): https://bit.ly/2MQuLc2