Donna Logan will be back in the black-type frame with her young stable at Ruakaka on Saturday, presenting the promising Yokozuna in the Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).
After seven years training in Singapore, Logan returned to New Zealand late last year and has already made her presence felt, picking up six wins from less than 30 starters in a rebuilding phase for the accomplished horsewoman.
Among her just-turned three-year-old contingent is Yokozuna, a son of Fierce Impact that she purchased out of the Karaka Yearling Sales last year.
After a couple of trial appearances, Yokozuna was ready to step out as a late juvenile and he did just that, skipping through the heavy conditions at Ruakaka in mid-July to break his maiden at the first time of asking.
Logan had been wary of track conditions that day and is looking forward to testing his ability on a better surface, as well as a stronger line-up that awaits in the Breeders.
“He’s always shown he is a genuine horse, the question was whether he would cope with the track on debut as Ruakaka is a track better for knowing it than not,” she said. “He coped with it well, he coped with the conditions that day and he stuck on really strong, so it was very encouraging for a debut run.
“I’ve always thought he would like a better track and we’re about to find out as he’ll get a very good track on the weekend, and he’ll meet a very good field.
“It’s definitely not a gimme, he’ll have to show his true colours and step up. He is a progressive horse. I think we’re running for place money, but somebody has to run second or third and I don’t mind being that person.
“To me, I think Geneva looks like a very strong contender.”
The market for the $100,000 feature aligns with her assessment, placing Geneva on top at $2.45, while her charge sits at $9.50, with Vinnie Colgan to take the ride.
Yokozuna has also provided an opportunity for Logan to recommence a long-standing partnership with owners Brent and Wendy Cooper, who have their Social Racing Premier Dynamic Duo Syndicate in the gelding.
“I’ve had horses with Brent and Wendy for about 30 years, we go a long, long way back,” Logan said. “It’s nice to rekindle our association again, they’re not just clients, they are very good friends.”
Logan’s other runner at her former stomping ground will be Ravenna Rose, a three-win mare who was fourth when debuting for the stable at Ruakaka last month. The daughter of Redwood will take her place in the Harcourts Just Rentals 1600, with an in-form Matthew Cameron in the saddle.
“She struggled to go straight (last start), but the clients said to me afterwards that it was the first time she’s been that way around, which explained a lot,” Logan said. “We’ve changed to a softer bit and a senior rider this time, so we’ll see what she produces.
“In fairness, she’s a horse looking for 2000m-plus, but we’ve got to go to which races are available at the time.”
Further south at New Plymouth, Logan will be represented by White Mask on Saturday, having found a nice option in a $35,000 MAAT race with a horse that has won her last two starts.
Both of those victories have come in Heavy10 conditions, but Logan is cautious of what the mare may strike when she contests the United Steel Maiden 1800M.
“After her last start win, I was looking at what there was for us going forward and spied this race as a really good opportunity for her,” she said.
“She’s got to handle those track conditions and step up to 1800m, which she indicates she should. I’m just querying whether it’s a sticky, puggy track, because that can trip a lot of horses up.”
A busy weekend for the stable will culminate at Taupo on Sunday, with three-year-old fillies Unwritten and Conscribe engaged in the Little Avondale Stud (1400m).
The former went down by a long head at her most recent effort, despite having been unsuited to sitting on pace.
“She probably got there too easily, then switched off,” Logan said. “I think she’s a far better horse chasing than being up on speed, particularly as a green horse that doesn’t know what she’s doing yet.
“She got there and started to loaf, and in the last bit, she woke up and got going again.
“There is a nice lot of speed in her race at Taupo, but my biggest concern is the rail being right down where they trialled, so I hope her barrier (2) won’t be a disadvantage. I’m just hoping that the track plays well enough, and I’m very happy to be stepping up to 1400m with a bit of speed in the race.”
Conscribe has drawn out in barrier 11, having finished fifth in both of her starts to date.
“She’s got to have things go her way and there’s not a lot of her, so she can’t afford to get too knocked around and unbalanced,” Logan said.
“She tries her heart out, so let’s hope she can step up to the 1400m and improve over the 1200.”
