Singapore Racing continues to be under the pump on a number of fronts with very strict Covid-19 protocols also impacting on every level of the industry. Race meetings are currently being held in front of empty stands and many ex-pat participants have already called time on their stay in Singapore and returned home.
New Zealander Donna Logan is one of those trainers riding out the storm in Singapore and she was rewarded for her perseverance when Minister, a horse that was transferred to her stable when Hall Of Fame trainer Lee Freedman pulled up stumps in Singapore, won the SG$1 million Group 1 Kranji Mile.
Minister, a United States bred five-year-old son of Street Sense, stormed home, coming from well back in the field to snare the Daniel Meagher trained Lim’s Lightning in the shadow of the post.
Lim’s Lightning, who had looked the likely winner with 150m left to run, had won the Group 1 Lion City Cup in his previous start and he put in another tremendous performance here for the Meagher yard only just failing to complete a back-to-back Group 1 double under a near perfect ride from Danny Beasley from a wide draw.
Rocket Star, the Lion City Cup runner-up, finished third.
Minister was ridden by Kasim A’Isisuhairi, who also had some success with Logan when both were based in New Zealand.
At a time when it is difficult to attract new owners and new horses to any stable, Logan was grateful for the fact that she was able to acquire Minister earlier this year.
“Times are tough and we have been on thin pickings here, so to be given the opportunity to get the horse off Hall Of Fame trainer Lee Freedman, and to train for King Power Stable has meant a lot to me,” Logan said post-race … adding that she is determined to strive for more Group winners in Singapore.
“I took this challenge on and I am not one to walk away from a challenge,” said Logan. “I have got to give it my best shot.”
It was Minister’s third start and first win for the Logan stable and it was the gelding’s first Group 1 victory.
When racing for trainer Lee Freedman, Minister had finished second in both the Singapore Gold Cup and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup as well as finishing third in the Singapore Derby, so this breakthrough win at the highest level was certainly well deserved.
