LOGAN RACING WEEKEND RUNNERS PREVIEW
Logan Racing Weekend Preview
This weekend Donna will have just the three runners in total, two of which start on Friday night at Kranji. These runners include the impressive last start runner-up GEB WARRIOR, consistent old galloper HIPPO VENTURA. Then Sunday will hopefully see a form turn-around from QIJI COMMANDER, a horse that the stable has always had a high opinion of.
With a focus on New Zealand racing on Saturday, the team makes the long trek to Hawkes Bay where we will be represented by an exciting team of six runners on a premier day. The six runners are spread across 3 races, with two very striking last start winners in the Rating 72 2200m in AMAZING AZ and LOS ANGELES. We also have two runners in the Group 3 Red Badge Sprint, VINEVALE and NOT USUAL HEART. With the main attraction of the day being the Group 1 Livamol Classic, another race in which we will have two stable representatives, DANZDANZDANCE and HELLO IT’S ME both go in to this in great form as the new training partnership look to snare their first Group 1 Success.
Friday 5 October - Kranji
Race 4 – No. 5 GEB WARRIOR – Erasmus Aslam
The big 4YO son of Your Song will be the stables first runner this weekend, he takes his place in the Open Maiden 1400m ($20,000) on the turf long course. GEB WARRIOR was only fair on his debut for the stable (7 September), over the 1600m where he battled away to finish 8th. He was last seen dropping back to the 1200m (21 September) on the Polytrack and from a wide draw, he was kept wide throughout. On that occasion, he rallied superbly and found a kick only to be run down in the shadows of the post. Erasmus Aslam will remain aboard him at 56.5KG with the 1KG claim and they have come up with barrier three of 12. His top run last start was somewhat a pleasant surprise and off the back of that a step back up in trip to the 1400m on Friday should suit him, however, the worry is GEB WARRIOR has a poor record on the turf with just one run so far, hopefully he can put that behind him on Friday and run another top race.
GEB WARRIOR finishing 2nd last start (21 September): https://bit.ly/2DVoR5f
Race 5 – No. 8 HIPPO VENTURA – WS Chan
The second stable runner on Friday night is our 8YO son of Iffraaj, who takes his place in the Class 5 1700m ($20,000) on the Polytrack. HIPPO VENTURA is a limited galloper who lacks nothing when it comes to effort on raceday, he always gives 110%. He has had three runs for the stable now and the way he is going suggests he may face retirement soon unless he shows a turn-around soon. Last start he simply showed a real lack of speed and ended up finishing a long way off the leaders. Stable apprentice, WS Chan takes the ride and with the 3KG claim he will only carry 52KG as they jump from gate eight of 11. We are confident that he will run a race and give his all but it’s hard to gauge just where his level is now and we are more hopeful than anything.
HIPPO VENTURA finishing 3rd on stable debut (19 August): https://bit.ly/2Qu2YeF
Saturday 6 October – Hawkes Bay
Race 1 – No. 5 AMAZING AZ – Cameron Lammas
Our first runner for the day is this very exciting 4YO Azamour gelding who is the first of two stable runners in the Bay Ford NZ Punter of the Year 2200m ($40,000). AMAZING AZ has been ultra-impressive in winning his last two raceday appearances. A horse that the stable has always had a high opinion of, we are very pleased to see him work his way through the grades. Having his first run over ground last start (1 September) AMAZING AZ was sent out favourite and did not disappoint punters as he gamely got the job done. He has come up with barrier eight of 13 in the opener on Saturday where Cameron Lammas will be aboard at 58KG. We are extremely pleased with AMAZING AZ and the stable feels that given luck in the running he is a genuine winning chance on Saturday
AMAZING AZ winning last start (1 September): https://bit.ly/2zQ86Eo
Race 1 – No. 8 LOS ANGELES – Trudy Thornton
The second stable runner in the Bay Ford Punter of the Year 2200m ($40,000) is another last start winner, LOS ANGELES. She is a 4YO mare by Rock’N’Pop who has always shown us plenty of ability and she is finally starting to display that on raceday as her form line reads. With two wins, a second and a fourth in her most recent four outings. LOS ANGELES comes in to this event in great form and has drawn nicely in gate six of 13 for regular rider, Trudy Thornton and she will carry 56.5KG. She has drawn a nice alley in this and should be able to obtain a comfortable run throughout and the team feels that she is another who we present to the races in great order. We are confident of a bold showing from her on Saturday and LOS ANGELES should be another who is very competitive in the opening event on Saturday.
LOS ANGELES winning last start (15 September): https://bit.ly/2O1v6cq
Race 8 – No. 12 DANZDANZDANCE – Danielle Johnson
The very exciting 4YO daughter of Mastercraftsman is back for her second start in her 4YO campaign and she tackles the Group 1 Livamol Classic ($250,000). Off the back of a 3YO campaign that saw her rapidly rise to the top, starting favourite in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby at just her fifth start, where she managed a game third. We last saw her on debut as a 4YO over 1400m (1 September) at Ruakaka where she was extremely brave against a top field of horses to score a win by a small margin. She does make the rapid step from 1400m to the 2040m on Saturday at just her second run this prep, but she is a lightly framed mare and she will actually benefit from the lack of racing. Danielle Johnson will maintain her association with her as she was aboard during her last start, they will jump from gate four of 14 and carry 55.5KG at the WFA scale. DANZDANZDANCE is an extremely talented mare that is beyond capable of winning a Group 1. She comes in to this event in superb order and Chris and Michelle are very pleased with her since winning on debut.
DANZDANZDANCE winning last start (1 September): https://bit.ly/2zQKaAZ
Race 8 – No. 14 HELLO IT’S ME – Cameron Lammas
Another very exciting 4YO, she is by Darci Brahma. A hugely talented 3YO, she was victorious in the Group 2 Royal Stakes on New Year’s Day. She was being aimed at a Queensland Winter campaign when a niggly issue put a premature end to her 3YO season. She debuted as a 4YO two starts ago at Ruakaka (12 August) over 1200m, where she ran away a very stylish winner on that occasion. She raced without luck second up (1 September) over 1400m and she comes into this off the back of a 5-week gap. She will benefit from the spaced run and strips much fitter for this. Cameron Lammas will again be aboard the mare he has a good association with, they have gate eleven of 14 and will also carry 55.5KG. Any rain that does come will help HELLO IT’S ME’s chances and we are very confident that she will be presented on Saturday in great order. Hopefully she can gain some luck in the running from a poor draw and she should be very competitive in her first Group 1 assignment.
HELLO IT’S ME winning first up (12 August): https://bit.ly/2DXZ24v
Race 9 – No. 10 VINEVALE – Cameron Lammas
VINEVALE is a 6YO Flying Spur mare who will tackle the Group 3 Red Badge Spring Sprint ($70,000) over 1400m. She has been a very consistent and versatile racehorse and always makes her presence felt. A mare who was in great form when she joined the stable, winning three races in a row, before she was given a crack at black type in the Group 2 Foxbridge Plate. On that occasion, she was impressive against a top line up of horses. She returned to Ruakaka last start (1 September) where she was seen doing her best work late through the line, suggesting the 1400m of Saturdays race will suit her perfectly. Cameron Lammas will be aboard in this and they have barrier six of twelve. VINEVALE will only have to carry 53KG in this and if she runs up to her best, she is more than capable of going close on Saturday. Her main aim is to get some black type before going off to the breeding barn, with some luck in a very strong race, we are confident she can do so.
VINEVALE winning 2ndup (30 June): https://bit.ly/2OvIPrx
Race 9 – No. 12 NOT USUAL HEART – Ryan Elliot
The final runner for the stable on Saturday will also run in the Group 3 Red Badge Spring Sprint. A 4YO mare by Show A Heart, she is a very speedy winner of three races to date. She is another who was impressive in winning multiple races through the winter at Ruakaka, she returned to form last start (15 September) when running third. NOT USUAL HEART will be partnered for the first time on Saturday by Ryan Elliot, the pair will jump from gate nine of 12, and she will also have just 53KG. She is a very talented mare that is being thrown in the deep end a bit on Saturday, but we are confident that she has the ability to go a bold race.
NOT USUAL HEART finishing 3rdlast start (15 September): https://bit.ly/2DXZPT1
Sunday 7 October - Kranji
Race 2 – No. 9 QIJI COMMANDER – Alysha Collett
Our sole runner on Sunday is the 3YO son of Helmet. He runs in the Restricted Maiden 1100m ($85,000) on Polytrack. A horse that was seen once as a 2YO, he returned to the races last start (7 September) as a 3YO and his lack of fitness tolled late and he knocked up to finish seventh. He takes his place in a very competitive event on Sunday and with the extra run under his belt, his fitness should be much better for this race. Alysha Collett will be having her first ride aboard QIJI COMMANDER on Sunday and they will jump from gate eight of 10 and he will carry 53KG. The team are pleased with how he has been working and hope he can show some of the ability he has on raceday.
QIJI COMMANDER finishing 7thlast start (7 September): https://bit.ly/2ya6Sly