Although there are only four meetings left until the curtain is drawn on racing in Singapore on 5 October, trainer Donna Logan will still miss Saturday’s meeting for her son Robert’s marriage back in New Zealand this weekend.
Logan and her husband Peter Woods will travel home to witness Robert tie the knot with partner Lexi, but not before putting the polish on three runners nominated for this Saturday’s meeting in Singapore.
Most notably, Te Akau Ben will fly the flag for the stable in the $70,000 Class 3 race (1400m). While he has yet to win beyond Class 4 company, the seven-year-old son of Tavistock looked well-placed to show he can be more than competitive at the level.
The bay gelding battled at his first start in a Class 3 race over 1200m on 11 August when he ran seventh but given the last four of his five wins were over 1400m, the step-up to his best distance would be a big help.
With less than a month to go before his proposed move to Malaysia, Logan hopes Te Akau Ben can tick the Class 3 box before beginning his new racing life across the Causeway.
“It’s a good Class 3 field, but 1400m is his pet trip,” said Logan.
“We have raced him sparingly, only 20 starts in Singapore (since February 2022) and he’s been running very well in Class 4 lately.
“So I think he can win a race like this in Class 3 but will need a few things to go his way. A nice barrier would be a start and obviously, the extra 200m will be in his favour.
“(Jockey) CC (Wong Chin Chuen) will ride him as (jockey) Vitor (Espindola) has gone back to Brazil. He (Wong) was pleased with his (Te Akau Ben) work this morning.
“We are very happy with him, and he should be more than competitive on Saturday.
“Regardless of what he does in the final meetings in Singapore, Tavistock’s (progenies) only get better with age, so he still has plenty of upsides. He’s a horse you can follow when he races in Malaysia.”
Likewise, Logan’s two other runners on Saturday, China Pearl in the $30,000 Class 5 race (1400m) and Otahuhu in the $30,000 Class 5 Division 1 race (1200m), also have something to offer before being relocated to Malaysia.
“The countdown (to 5 October) is definitely on,” said Logan, who has 13 horses left at her Kranji stables.
“We are kept busy and making sure all our horses find a good home. China Pearl and Otahuhu will continue to race in Malaysia.
“The races on Saturday seem to suit them. Hopefully, they can both pick up a cheque or two before they leave.
“(Jockey) Ryan (Curatolo) will ride China Pearl (x Ardrossan) and he would have appreciated his first-up run in better company (finished last in a Novice race over 1400m on 25 August).
“This race suits and he was going well prior to his layoff.
“My apprentice (jockey) Shin Wah (Chong) just missed on Otahuhu (x Overshare) two starts back (beaten a head in a Class 5 race over 1200m on 4 August), so he gets another chance.
“Hopefully we can get him (Chong) a winner before the place shuts too.”
Of the impending end of racing in Singapore after 182 years, Logan reckons emotions will be at a high when the realization sets in on the final day but is kept busy with plans post Kranji.
“We have known (of the closure) for a long time, but it’s getting real now,” said Logan, who has been training in Singapore since April 2018.
“It is so sad to see such a wonderful racing industry close after so many years. All the history of this place (Kranji) and Bukit Timah before that.
“My heart aches watching the replays of the big races and the crowds. The world-class horses, jockeys and trainers will all be gone. It will be very emotional on the last day.
“But I have a job to do and that’s to make sure my staff and horses are looked after and that is keeping me occupied.
“We will be setting up stables back in Byerley Park, which is near the Karaka Sales complex (in New Zealand) and I’m getting good support from owners back home.
“My daughter (Samantha Logan) is pre-training for me in Cambridge and we will head back in late October after all our horses have been safely housed elsewhere.
“At the moment, I’m also getting the paperwork done in order to get some of my loyal staff to join the stables in New Zealand and make sure all the horses find the best homes.
“Life will go on after Kranji, but it’s family first with Robert and Lexi’s wedding this weekend.
“My runners are in the capable hands of (assistant-trainer) Jasuli (Sulaiman) and (stable supervisor) Chi (Chihiro Iizuka), so hopefully we can celebrate at the wedding with a winner at Kranji.”
By Larry Foley
