LOGAN RACING WEEKEND RUNNERS GUIDE
Logan Racing Weekend Preview
Last weekend was a super one for the Logan Racing team located in Singapore. Donna and her crew saddled up a total of 12 runners across both Friday and Sundays race meetings at Kranji where they were rewarded with 2 winners, an extremely narrow second from GREEN STAR, 2 thirds and 2 fourths, with a number of these horses posting performances that left Donna with a big smile on her face, especially in regards to the future.
We are now faced by a big weekend for the teams in both Singapore and New Zealand as Logan Racing has runners entered in a listed race at Rotorua Saturday, a Group 1 on Sunday in Singapore and a Group 2 on Monday at Te Rapa as we race on Labour Day.
We will be represented by a total of 7 runners across the four days of racing coming up.
Friday 19 October - Kranji
Race 6 – No. 8 GOOD CATCH – Daniel Moor
We start the weekend off with just the one runner at Kranji and that is GOOD CATCH, a New Zealand bred 4YO son of Falkirk who is owned by the powerful Titanium Racing Stable. He runs in the Class 4 Premier ($60,000) 1100m on the Polytrack. GOOD CATCH has been to the races on three occasions now for the stable and has been very brave every time, posting a narrow second, third and fifth at his most recent start. A winner of just the one race from his 10 starts, GOOD CATCH is an extremely consistent galloper who has finished second 5 times in his career, with a further two minor placings. He has been entered in to a very competitive race on Friday night and will jump from gate seven of 11. The in-form Daniel Moor will partner him in this as he takes his first ride for the stable, and GOOD CATCH will carry 55.5KG. A race that is full of top chances, GOOD CATCH will require some luck in running from that draw, should he gain a favourable run in-transit, we are confident he can maintain his consistent record and produce another top 3 finish.
GOOD CATCH finishing 5th last start (21 September): https://bit.ly/2J2BXwF
Saturday 20 October – Rotorua
Race 5 – No. 14 KYRIE ELEISON – Cameron Lammas
The first of our runners for the weekend is our first black-type competitors, KYRIE ELEISON, a consistent 5YO mare by New Zealand super sire, O’Reilly. Owned by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan, she is having her first crack at a black-type race on Saturday. KYRIE ELEISON may be the lowest rated horse in the Listed Jakkalberry Classic ($50,000) 2000m on Saturday but she has one of the more enviable records behind her, having had 12 starts she has won 3 times and only finished further back than 5thonce. She is certainly a mare in form who saluted at Matamata last start (26 September) and has earnt the right to have a crack at this. She will come in to this a very fit horse who looks to get track conditions to suit. KYRIE ELESION will be partnered by regular rider Cameron Lammas and the pair will jump from barrier seven of 14 with 53KG. We are under no illusions that this is a very competitive event and KYRIE ELEISON is the lowest rated horse in the field, but we know she is a very tough mare who is racing in great form and Chris and Michelle are confident that she can perform up to her best and on her day, she is capable of grabbing that elusive black-type, which will benefit her as broodmare.
KYRIE ELEISON scoring last start at Matamata (26 September): https://bit.ly/2Ou0ccQ
Race 8 – No. 12 SCARFI – Cameron Lammas
Our only other runner at Rotorua on Saturday is another extremely consistent mare, SCARFI is a 4YO daughter of Makfi who takes her place in the Lance Lawson 1400m ($22,500). She is another last start winner (26 September) who boasts an excellent race record, from 7 starts, SCARFI has won once and finished second on another four occasions. She comes in to this race off the back of snatching her maiden victory in brave fashion at Matamata and in great form. The track condition and 1400m should suit SCARFI down to the ground and she has drawn favourably in gate six of 14. Her regular rider is also Cameron Lammas and he remains aboard for this assignment on Saturday at 56.5KG. SCARFI finds herself in a very even rating 65 event, however, she definitely possesses the ability to put them away. She should be able to gain a comfortable run in transit from the barrier and the stable feel she is in great order to run a top race.
SCARFI clearing maidens last start (26 September): https://bit.ly/2yoB3Xf
Sunday 21 October – Kranji
Race 9 – No. 7 VOLKSTOK’N’BARRELL – Matthew Kellady
The stable will only have the one runner again at Kranji on Sunday as our Group 1 winning son of Tavistock will tackle the Group 1 WFA Queen Elizabeth II Cup ($1,000,000) over 1800m on the turf Long Course. He comes into this race off the back of two runs that on paper look well below his best. With a first up 6thand a last start 10th. However, his first up run over 1200m they ran a slick 1:08.94 and on that occasion, he was giving at least 5.5KG to the field with some runners carrying 10.5KG less than him, coupled with the fact that he was 25KG above his optimum racing weight himself, it’s safe to say we were actually pleased with his run to finish 6.6 length from the winner. Last start over a slightly more favoured 1400m he was still giving the entire field between 3KG and 9.5KG, which is always a task. He looked to be very disappointing in finishing a distant 10th, but he just simply didn’t go a step in the rain effected track. With over 150 mills falling in the week prior to the races, the track was not to his liking and we are putting the disappointing run down to that. He is backing up in this event but he hasn’t taken any harm from his run 9 days prior over 1400m and should trip much fitter for this. Going back to Weight for Age and up in distance, VOLKSTOK’N’BARRELL finds race conditions that should suit him much better. Unfortunately, due to her injuries, Alysha Collett will not be able to partner him in this, so Mathew Kellady has been engaged to ride at the 58KG. He has drawn well in gate four of 14 and he should be able to enjoy a suitable run in transit. The stable have been extremely pleased with VOLKSTOK’N’BARRELL right through this prep and we are confident that he can post a much improved performance in this, especially with an eye on the Group 1 Dester Singapore Gold Cup ($1,350,000) looming as a very suitable race for him in a further three weeks’ time. The stable is hopeful and expecting him to return to his best form on Sunday and should he do so, there is no reason VOLKSTOK’N’BARRELL can’t compete with this field.
VOLKSTOK’N’BARRELL finishing 6th first up (23 September): https://bit.ly/2RYXM41
Monday 22 October – Te Rapa
Race 3 – No. 10 LADY SEQUOYAH – Cameron Lammas
Monday sees the racing run on Labour Day and Logan Racing has three runners entered. The first being a 4YO daughter of Align, LADY SEQUOYAH who runs in the Melbourne Cup at Te Rapa 1600m (10,000) over 1600m. She is making the steep step from 1200m to 1600m on Monday, but the stable has always been confident that this trip will suit her with some of her best performances being at 1400m. Her form line doesn’t read as well as others in this strong maiden field, however, she has been running solid races to date. Her best runs to date have actually been in races where she has had limited luck in running and would likely have finished closer if she had avoided the interference. LADY SEQUOYAH will come in to this race with solid race fitness on her side as well as a nice draw in gate six of 14. Cameron Lammas will be having his first ride aboard her on Monday and she will carry 56.5KG. Chris and Michelle believe LADY SEQUOYAH has the ability to be competitive in this event, she has always been a horse that was going to take time to mature and the stable believes she is nearing a point where she can show her ability. With luck going her way on Monday, we see her as a good place chance at longer odds.
LADY SEQUOYAH 4th two starts ago over 1400m (1 September): https://bit.ly/2Cmp8f4
Race 4 – No. 10 MI SKY – Michael Coleman
The next runner on Labour Day at Te Rapa is the lightly raced 5YO mare by Stravinsky. MI SKY also lines up in a maiden race, this time it’s the maiden 1400m ($10,000). She has solid form around horses such as THE (LORD) MAYOR & VERY ELLEEGANTwho have both gone on to be very competitive in group races in Australia. MI SKY comes in to this race with a second and a third to her name from her 5 starts so far. The 1400m distance will be ideal for her on Monday and Michael Coleman will hope aboard for the first time at 56.5KG. MI SKY has also drawn nicely in gate four of 16 and should have every opportunity to gain a suitable run in transit. This is another very open event but the stable feels that MI SKY has been knocking on the door in recent runs and gets her chance on Monday to clear maidens, MI SKY is a top chance in a very even race.
MI SKY finishing 2nd to VERY ELLEEGANT(12 August): https://bit.ly/2q0LprD
Race 7 – No. 8 QUIZMASTER – Samantha Collett
Our third and final runner on Monday at Te Rapa is also the stables third black-type runner for the weekend. QUIZMASTER is a strapping 3YO gelding by the top sire, Iffraaj. Having just his fourth start and his first at Group 2 level, he runs in the James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes ($100,000) over 1400m. This race has assembled a very handy field of talented 3 year olds, with it being a key lead up and from reference for the Group 1 2000 Guineas at Riccarton in early November. QUIZMASTER lines up with just the one win on his record and albeit in much weaker company, he was rather impressive over the unsuited shorter trip of 1200m last start at Ruakaka (3 October). It was very much a case of teaching him how to race and win on that occasion and thankfully, it was mission achieved. QUIZMASTER was taken back in the field and gradually improved around them, where he was resented at the top of the straight, where he let down to score a win in very green fashion. Some of his competitors on Monday have much more impressive records and credentials, but we are happy with how he has progressed and the extra distance will give him a chance to be more competitive. Touted as a potential New Zealand Derby horse, QUIZMASTER will hopefully be competitive at this level on Monday as we look to progress him towards a derby in March. He will have the advantage of a nice barrier on Monday with gate six of 11 and the services of reigning champion rider Samantha Collett. QUIZMASTER has lots of raw ability, if he puts his best foot forward and races well on Monday, we are confident he is another place chance at long odds.
QUIZMASTER winning last start (3 October): https://bit.ly/2P4Rotr