Expat New Zealand trainer Donna Logan filled 3 of the first 4 placings in the S$110,000 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint at Kranji on Saturday.
January (NZ) (Swiss Ace) prevailed in a thriller by a head over the game Bestseller, but it was a great result for Logan’s stable as Luxury Brand (NZ) (Charm Spirit) ran on well late to finish in third, and stablemate Knippenberg just missed out the podium finish another half-a-length away.
Logan was overjoyed with the results and could not have been more impressed by the winning ride by jockey Simon Kok.
“I said pre-race that the jockey who gave the best ride would win,” said the New Zealander after the race.
“Simon rode him a treat. I pictured him three-back on the fence and emphasised that the best way home was the shortest route. You can’t win Group races going wide in Singapore.
“It worked out beautifully. The rain helped – Simon said the runners out front were struggling on the shifting track – and when he hit the front at the furlong, I knew he wouldn’t get beat.”
Logan, who now has two major races to her name in Singapore after Minister took out the Kranji Mile in 2021, was also happy that she won the race with a horse that the Falcon Racing No 7 Stable had entrusted her to not only train, but also to buy.
“I’m thrilled for the owners,” continued Logan.
“I bought him at the (New Zealand Bloodstock) Ready To Run Sale for Falcon (Racing No 7) Stable for NZ$75,000 in 2021 and I’m just rapt that he has won a big race for them so early.
“He’s (January) already paid his way. He’s been a terrific horse for them already so to win this race over 1200m and to have the Classic and the Guineas still to come is really exciting.”
Of her other two runners – Luxury Brand and Knippenberg – Logan was happy with the result given where they settled in running with the Singapore 3YO Classic over 1400m on April 29 also on their short-term agendas.
“They both got too far back to have a serious say in the finish today but both finished the race off really well,” she said.
“All three will go to the (Singapore 3YO) Classic and I think you can make a case for all three on what we saw today.”
The Singapore 3YO Classic is the second Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, and the third and final Leg will be the Singapore Guineas (1600m) which will be run on May 20.
Other New Zealand bred winners in Singapore on Saturday include Centurion (NZ) (Zed), Khao Manee (NZ) (Remind), & Cool Sixty-One (NZ) (Vespa).
