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“Not ideal” was the initial response from trainer Donna Logan after two of her fancied runners – Luxury Brand and Knippenberg – drew barriers 10 and 14 respectively in the $110,000 Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) on Saturday.
The Kiwi conditioner – who will also saddle January (barrier five) in the first Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge series – had hoped for a bit more luck when the barrier draw came out on Wednesday morning in what looks to be a wide-open race.
It was all the more so given that Luxury Brand and Knippenberg both looked cherry ripe on race and trial form for big runs in the 3YO Sprint, but Logan was quick to move on and plan accordingly with the cards she was dealt.
"Makes it hard, but what to do? Can't change it now," said the only female trainer currently plying her trade at Kranji.
"And to be fair, a few of the other fancied runners – Bransom (barrier 15) and Coin Toss (barrier 16) to name two - have also drawn badly, so luck will definitely play a part in this race."
Of her three runners in the 16-horse field, Logan thought that the BAX Racing Stable-owned Luxury Brand has the runs on the board at both Course and distance to have a big say in the finish.
"I would have liked him (Luxury Brand) to draw better for sure but he has better statistics than most – if not all – in the race," she said of the gelding by Charm Spirit.
"All his three wins have been on the turf over 1200m and all on the Short Course for that matter, so it's hard to fault form on both Course and distance.
"He was in good order at his recent trial too (ran third to Thunder Star in trial no. 3 on March 28) and (jockey) Yusoff (Fadzli) was very happy with him.
"And as I said, some of the other good horses have drawn outside of him so hopefully we get a good run in transit and have a fair crack at winning."
Barrier 14 certainly put a dampener on Knippenberg's winning chances but Logan was happy that the experienced Ronnie Stewart has the reins on the Fortuna NZ Racing Stable-owned gelding.
"It's Ronnie's problem now," quipped Logan of the horror draw for the son of I Am Invincible.
"He knows how to ride in these big races but he (Knippenberg) will definitely have his work cut out for him.
"But we can't fault the horse. He trialled superb the other day (ran second to Southern Master in trial no. 2 on March 28). Yusoff rode him quiet on that occasion and his work on the line was very strong - a good pipe-opener.
"I thought his run in the Novice race (second to Bestseller over 1200m on the Polytrack on February 18) was very good considering that he did it tough. Also, he won well on the turf at his first start in Singapore (Restricted Maiden over 1200m on January 28).
"He needs luck, but so do the others."
Logan has a lot of time for her other runner - January – but thought that the son of Swiss Ace will show his best over longer trips.
"I think they shouldn't be too sharp for him on Saturday," explained Logan of the Falcon Racing No 7 Stable-owned gelding.
"He's in terrific form and has placed over 1100m on the Polytrack but his best runs – including his two wins – have all been over 1400m on turf.
"So while I expect him to be strong late for (jockey) Simon (Kok Wei Hoong) over 1200m, the second and third Legs of the 3YO series will be his caper.
"He's a nice horse and I'm looking forward to those races."
The second and third Legs of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge series are the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) on April 29 and the Group 2 Singapore Guineas (1600m) on May 20.
