Cambridge trainer Samantha Logan has had success campaigning horses in the South Island before, and she is hoping following a similar blueprint will pay off with I’ll Hava Semillon, who will bid to breakthrough for her maiden win in Sunday’s KB Contractors (2200m) at Wingatui.
Stablemate Wry Smile campaigned in the south over summer, scoring his maiden win at Riccarton in January before placing at Wingatui a month later.
The four-year-old gelding was based at trainer Krystal Williams’ Burnham base, and Logan has once again called on her lifelong friend to assist her in her current southern venture.
“She will have this one run for me (down south) and if she shapes up down there, she will probably go into Krystal Williams’ stable,” Logan said.
“We grew up together in Ruakaka. She has moved down there (Canterbury) and I have always been based in Cambridge. We were really good childhood friends and have carried that on. We help each other out as much as we can.”
Logan is hoping the change in scenery will work wonders for her mare, and she has already received positive reports from Williams, who said the daughter of Redwood has settled in well.
“Krystal has a lovely property and she managed to get out into the paddock for a few days and get her head down, so she bounced through it (travel) quite quickly,” Logan said.
“She went down there ready to go and she has settled in well. Krystal said she worked really well yesterday (Thursday) so everyone is happy with her.”
I’ll Hava Semillon will jump from barrier four on Sunday with in-form Central Districts hoop Leah Hemi in the saddle.
Logan is hopeful of a positive showing, with TAB bookmakers sharing her optimism, opening I’ll Hava Semillon as a $4.20 winning chance for her southern debut.
“Hopefully she goes well, they all seem to get a new lease on life with a change in scenery,” she said.
While confident in her charge, there is doubt around Sunday’s meeting, with significant rain expected over the weekend. While the track was deemed safe to race on following an inspection on Friday, a further inspection will take place on Saturday to reassess the situation.
“Fingers crossed it goes ahead, otherwise there should be something else coming up for her,” Logan said.
Meanwhile, Logan hasn’t ruled out sending reinforcements south over the coming months and is eyeing the Grand National Festival of Racing at Riccarton in August in particular.
“I have got another horse called Jelly Roll,” she said. “If he showed a bit of potential up here we might look to take him down for the Grand National week.”