3 minute read
Trainer Donna Logan reigned supreme at Singapore over the weekend landing the Group 1 Kranji Mile with recent stable transfer Minister.
A multiple Group 1 winning trainer in both New Zealand and Australia, it took Logan three years to break her maiden in Singapore having first arrived in 2018.
The beneficiary of Lee Freedman returning to Australia, Logan welcomed Minister into her stable with the son of Street Sense showing good improvement with each visit to the races.
A close second in the Singapore Gold Cup at his last start for Freedman, Minister kicked off for Logan over 1200m when finding Lim's Lightning too sharp.
Stepping up to the mile at his next start he stuck on well when fourth behind Sacred Croix.
While a noted on-pacer, Harry Kasim had few options when electing to ride him back from the wide draw.
Settled in the back half he enjoyed a lovely trail three-wide with good speed on up front.
Pulled one of the widest on straightening, Minister travelled boldly before showing a good turn of foot when cut loose inside the 300m, setting out after the Dan Meagher trained Lim's Lightning.
The latter proved very game in front, but was no match late with Minister scoring by a head.
Rated 108 by Timeform, Minister equalled his mark from the Singapore Gold Cup and stamped himself one of the best in the land much to Logan's delight.
"With Minister, I had a hunger to prove something. I wanted this win more than anything," said Logan.
"I've heard people saying I couldn't train because I was a woman and all that, but the truth of the matter is a good trainer needs to have good animals to train. If they don't have the stock, they won't set the world on fire.
"For a change, I had the cattle to win a Group race today and I think I showed I was capable of training one.
"You can only do the right thing and this horse has improved tenfold to become the best horse in my stable for quite some time."
Minister's performance sees him rated higher than Aramayo last year and just shy of Infantry in 2017.
Southern Legend remains the highest rated winner of the event in recent times returning a Timeform rating of 117 in both 2018 and 2019.
While beaten on Saturday Lim's Lightning was very impressive in defeat making the jump from 1200m to the mile.
Certainly not an easy feat and had he not been left exposed so far out it could have been a different result.
He much like Minister confirmed himself as one of the best in Singapore and now we eagerly await to see which way Meagher heads with him.
Not many horses are the best at both 1200m and a mile - he was only a head away from doing so, he is a serious horse.