Michael Lee, Singapore Turf Club
Renewed hopes for back-to-back Kranji Miles are again afloat in the Donna Logan camp going on the way Minister has been carrying himself at his new prep.
The US-bred Street Sense six-year-old became Logan’s pin-up horse last year after he gave the New Zealand trainer her Group 1 breakthrough in Singapore in the one million dollar race.
The joy was, however, shortlived.
Since that glorious day in May when he inflicted 2021 Singapore Horse of the Year Lim’s Lightning his one and only defeat that campaign, Minister has misfired at all his next six starts, three of them coming at Group 1 level.
While the jury is out whether Minister had slowly emptied out after the epic win, Logan had a spring back in her step – and so did the Thai-owned gelding – on Tuesday.
The four-time winner ran a 4 ½-length third to Kharisma at the third of the four heats, which was nothing too earth-shattering, but the bubbly lady was effusive in her pos-trial appraisal.
“I’m much happier with him this prep. After the Kranji Mile, he was mentally not the same,” said Logan.
“He’s now a happy horse again, and Harry (A’Isisuhairi Kasim) also said the same thing. He was happy to see the horse back to his best.
“I think the horse has got a different mindset this preparation, he seems a lot happier, and he’s really putting it altogether, and putting his mind right into the job.”
Logan dismissed the first-up run in a Class 2 1200m race on February 19 given the trip was too sharp, but even then, she still thought highly of his seventh place to the unbeaten Lim’s Kosciuszko.
“The 1200m was too short for him last time out,” said Logan.
“I was still really pleased with him as he really stretched out nicely, and kicked into gear when Harry went for him. He did fight back nicely in the final stages.
“We’ll now proceed towards the 1200m of the Class 1 race next week (Saturday, March 19), then on to a 1400m race before the Kranji Mile.”
Logan is plotting more or less the same path used in the build-up to last year’s triumph, even reverting to the same winning no-headgear option. Minister was blinkered at his last three starts, and never put in a blow.
“We had this discussion whether he should trial him without blinkers, and we thought he’d be better without them,” said Logan after the barrier trial.
“So we’re looking to racing him without them as Harry feels he’s responding really good without them.”
A’Isisuhairi agreed it was unnecessary to fit a horse with a headgear if it does not bring any value-add.
“Last time we put blinkers on to try something different, but I don’t think he needs blinkers. Mentally and physically, he’s on his game again,” said A’Isisuhairi.
Save for one start since Minister moved from Lee Freedman to Logan, the lightweight jockey has always teamed up with the King Power Stable-owned galloper, but just like Logan, could not quite fathom why Minister’s Kranji Mile form had gone awry, but was just rapt the fire in the belly was back.
“He trialled very nicely this morning, he strode along beautifully and gave me a really nice smooth action. He’s a lot fitter this time, he gave me a very nice trial,” said A’Isisuhairi.
“He was travelling, and when I asked him, he responded nicely, he hit the line strong, like he finished his job very well.
“He’s a happy horse, he goes out there, he’s doing his job and he gave me a very nice trial. Last time, I felt he was a little unfit, not quite the finished product.
“At the last preparation, I can feel he was a little bit sour, because I ride this horse every day and I know his character, and this time, I can say he’s a lot happier.
“I’m looking forward to riding him, and hopefully, we can go from there.”
