LOGAN RACING - KRANJI PREVIEW
Logan Racing Weekend Preview
With a big team in at Ruakaka last weekend, where we scored two wins, the New Zealand stable has a quiet weekend ahead of them as they have no runners to the races.
However, in Singapore we will be represented by eight runners across Friday, Sunday and Tuesday at Kranji, as VOLKSTOK’N’BARRELL will also get his prep underway on Sunday as he looks to work his way back up to Group 1 company in the near future. Group 1 racing is also happening on Sunday, with the running of the Raffles Cup, Tuesday will feature the PGI Jockey’s Challenge. Where some of the world’s best riders grace the Kranji turf to compete in the new, exciting series.
We are confident that we send a strong team to the races and hopeful to get back to the winner’s circle, even though we have been served multiple poor barrier draws.
Friday 21 September - Kranji
R2 – No. 9 QIJI FLYER – I Amirul
A 3YO gelding by Dawn Approach, QIJI FLYER has been to the races once in his career where he finished sixth (20 July) over 1000m. He will take his place in the Restricted Maiden ($85,000) 1100m on the Polytrack. On debut, QIJI FLYER showed early speed to sit just behind the leaders where he managed to battle on late and hold on to sixth. With a two-month gap between runs, he is coming in to this race in a fresher state. Having had the experience of a trip to the races and stepping up to 1100m, QIJI FLYER is more than capable of performing in what has come up a very open restricted maiden race. He will benefit further from this race fitness wise and should he not win on Friday, a win will not be far off for this talented horse. In-form apprentice I Amirul takes the mount and will claim the 2KG, meaning QIJI FLYER will carry 55KG. Unfortunately, he has drawn barrier ten of 11 which is a big disadvantage over 1100m on the Polytrack.
QIJI FLYER finishing 6th (20 July): https://bit.ly/2OFG5EI
R4 – No. 5 GEB WARRIOR – E Aslam
The stables second runner on Friday night is the big 4YO son of Your Song. The first of our trio of runners for the leading Titanium Racing Stable on the card. GEB WARRIOR runs in the Maiden 1200m ($20,000) on the Polytrack. GEB WARRIOR made his stable debut in an Open Maiden (7 September) over 1600m and drops back in distance to the 1200m in this. He is a horse that will need to be stepped up over more ground in future to reach his best. The 1200m will be a tough assignment for him on Friday especially since he has come up with ate 11 of eleven, E Aslam will take the ride, claiming the 1KG, meaning GEB WARRIOR is set to carry 54.5KG.
GEB WARRIOR finishing 8thlast start (7 September): https://bit.ly/2NUfLd0
R6 – No. 7 GOOD CATCH – K A’isisuhairi
Our third runner for the night is a 4YO gelding by Falkirk. GOOD CATCH will run in the Class 4 Premier ($60,000) over 1200m on the Polytrack. An ultra-consistent horse who has been to the races 9 times, where he has managed a top four finish on eight occasions (five of those being 2ndplacings). GOOD CATCH has raced twice for the stable where he’s managed a second and third (13 July & 19 August). A horse that relishes a longer gap between runs, the month spacing is a good fit going in to Fridays race. He will be partnered for the first time by the formerly New Zealand based, Harry Kasim (K A’isisuhairi), who takes his first ride for the stable in Singapore. He will jump from gate six of 9 with 56KG. A horse that races on the speed, GOOD CATCH will need some luck in running from the draw. He has been working well and the stable is confident that this consistent galloper can keep his good record intact.
GOOD CATCH finishing 2nd two starts ago (13 July): https://bit.ly/2OB5QG7
R9 – No. 4 REDOUBT – K A’isisuhairi
REDOUBT is having his first run for the stable on Friday in the Class 4 Non-Premier ($45,000) 1000m. A 5YO gelding by Not a Single Doubt he is dropping back in distance for Friday’s assignment and may find the 1000m a touch sharp for him with all his placings to date coming over the longer distances. A winner of just one race so far in Singapore, REDOUBT graced the winners circle over a year ago (30 July 2017) and is not far away from dropping back to Class 5 the way he has been racing. Another who will be partnered by Harry Kasim, REDOUBT will jump from gate two of 12 under 54KG. Whatever REDOUBT does in this on Friday, we are confident he is capable of improving on at his next few starts.
REDOUBT’S first win (30 July 2017): https://bit.ly/2ODt1jd
Sunday 23 September - Kranji
R6 – No. 1 VOLKSTOK’N’BARRELL – Alysha Collett
The solo runner for the stable on Raffles Cup day is our undisputed stable star, VOLKSTOK’N’BARRELL. A now 7YO son of Tavistock, ‘Trevor’ as he is affectionately known has not been sited on many occasions since relocating to Singapore. With things not going to plan in his raceday debut in Asia in the Group 1 Kranji Mile (26 May), he was given a break and has returned in magnificent order. He was most recently sited at the trials (13 September) in a strong field where he had a good blow afterwards. VOLKSTOK’N’BARRELL is on a path towards Group 1 features in late October and November and Sundays race will be a stepping stone to help further improve his match fitness for these bigger goals. Unfortunately, he has come up with the outside stall (twelve of 12) and will carry the top weight of 59.5KG for expat kiwi rider, Alysha Collett, who is having her first sit aboard the multiple Group 1 winner on raceday. The stable has no expectations for him on Sunday and feels that he is in need of a good run to help him get back to his best.
VOLKSTOK’N’BARRELL trialling recently (13 September): https://bit.ly/2MQe4sx
Tuesday 25 September - Kranji
R2 – No. 6 SHAHBAA – Hayley Turner
A special meeting on Tuesday in Singapore is the scene of the PGI Jockeys Challenge. Where some of the world’s leading riders take centre stage and battle it out. The Road to Rock 4YO takes his place in the 1stleg of the series, a Kranji Stakes D ($38,000) over 1800m on the turf Long Course. The lightly raced SHAHBAA will be having just his fifth race on Tuesday. He was last seen running a promising fourth over 1600m (7 September) on the Polytrack, this was following a huge performance over 1400m (5 August) on the Turf Long Course where he flew home late to go down by 0.3L finishing 2nd. Back to the Turf Long Course on Tuesday, SHAHBAA will be ridden Hayley Turner, one of the best flat female jockeys to have graced the English turf in recent years. Another who has unfortunately drawn poorly, SHAHBAA jumps from gate 14 of fourteen and will have to carry 58KG. He has been very impressive and consistent recently and this looks like a very winnable race for him. He will need luck from the draw, but with his ability, we are confident of a bold showing from the Al-Arabiya Stable owned gelding.
SHAHBAA flashing home to finish second (5 August): https://bit.ly/2xwXIiI
R4 – No. 11 GREEN STAR – Rab Havlin
A 5YO son of Iffraaj, GREEN STAR will take part in the Kranji Stakes C ($80,000) over 1200m, which is also the 3rdleg of the PGI Jockey’s Challenge. GREEN STAR is an immensely talented horse who hasn’t had a lot of luck with races he has been in to date. He has just four starts in Singapore for one win (27 April) so far. He will also be partnered an English based rider in Rab Havlin. A horse that is capable of being competitive over 1200m, he will appreciate it when he gets stepped up to 1400m and beyond. This is a very competitive event and GREEN STAR has unfortunately drawn poorly in barrier 11 of thirteen where he only has to carry 55KG. He is a horse who is capable of going a bold race in this event, but may be more suited when he steps out to a longer trip.
GREEN STAR winning on debut in Singapore (27 April): https://bit.ly/2xpAfR6
R7 – No. 3 MAJULAH – Craig Grylls
MAJULAH is a 5YO gelding by Postponed, who runs in the Kranji Stakes D ($38,000) over 1200m on the Turf Long Course. Fresh off two trials since joining the stable MAJULAH is expected to show a form turn around in a race where he is capable of finishing closer than he has in recent attempts. A one win horse whose best efforts have been over the longer trips, MAJULAH will use this race as a spring board to further his fitness for longer races in the future. He will jump from gate 5 of eleven under Craig Grylls with 58KG on his back. We are confident that this race will serve as a good starting point for him to gradually work his way up in distance, where he can hopefully recapture form.
MAJULAH trialling recently (13 September): https://bit.ly/2pumYTj