Double for Te Akau Singapore

Two horses, both purchased by Te Akau's David Ellis CNZM, saluted the judge at Kranji on the weekend. Both syndicated among Te Akau owners, the duo was bold in winning - much to the delight of their connections.

As mentioned, both winners were purchased by David Ellis CNZM, Reignite (6 g Sebring – Risk Aversion, by Encosta de Lago) won the $50,000 Class 4 1200 metres with stable apprentice Jamil Sarwi (a3) aboard and Axel (8 g Darci Brahma – Josephines Fortune) won the $50,000 Class 4 1400 metres in the hands of Champion Jockey Manoel Nunes.

Originally an A$800,000 purchase at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Reignite was later acquired by David Ellis for A$80,000 at the 2020 Inglis August Online Sale.

Logan reported beforehand that Reignite was striking a strong field and “needed things to go his way”, which it did.

Away on terms from an awkward draw (8), Sarwi did a good job securing cover just beyond midfield and after quickening into the clear at the 400m Reignite responded with huge finish to win easily by one and a quarter lengths.

He ran 1:12.4 for 1200 metres on the poly track, paid $9.60 & $3.40 on the NZ TAB tote, and increased prize money over $180,000 following his fifth win.

“Back in that class and aided by (3kg) weight relief, the biggest concern was the barrier (8) but it panned out quite well,” Logan said.

“Jamil (Sarwi) is starting to ride really confidently and I’ve been taken with how he’s stepped up.

“I had him mapped to be a little bit closer, but he used his head and didn’t panic and I keep trying to reiterate to the boys: take short cuts and don’t panic. The more you use them early, the less you have at the end.

“He presented him at the right time and he got home very strongly. It was a good effort.”

Reignite has now raced 26 times with five wins and seven other second or third placings, earning S$183,017 in prize money alone - not including starter incentives - or approx. NZ$227,700 for his owners.

“After Axel had been balloted out at his previous assignment,” Logan was happy with the engagement of Nunes and said prior that “it’s a good sign”. “He’s trialled well since racing in September, fresh, and in good form.”

A Ready to Run Sale purchase by Ellis, for just $55,000, Axel took earnings just of shy of $500,000 after recording his ninth victory (not including the additional starter incentives he has earned which take him to over $500,000 in prize money.

Burdened with a wide gate (11), Axel was given a ground saving run by Nunes to win by one and a quarter lengths, running 1400 metres in 1:21.8 on turf, and paying $6.80 & $3.20 on the NZ TAB tote.

“I told Manoel (Nunes) that the horse goes very well fresh, but not to come around them and rather just ride for luck.

“He went straight to the fence and kept creeping up in the back straight, and (Vlad) Duric opened the door up even more so on the favourite in the straight. He’s a pretty good horse, Grand Sage (Santos), and was under offer to Hong Kong.

“Duric said to me afterwards, when they were weighing in: “It was a very good ride by your jockey and I rode a shocker”.

“Manoel told me that he was glad I asked him to ride for luck because it gave him the confidence of not going out wide searching for runs.

“The run was almost too good to be true, but he deserved it after being balloted out while trying to find a race.”

Logan is preparing Istataba (Treasure Beach) and Countofmontecristo (Echoes Of Heaven) for the S$1 million Singapore Gold Cup (Gr. 1, 2000m) this Saturday (11 November), a race which gave Mark Walker his 500th win in Singapore when Elite Invincible (Archarcharch) won in 2018.

Australian Andrew Atkins is booked to ride Istataba, while Countofmontecristo awaits jockey confirmation.

Last year (2022) Logan finished second the Singapore Gold Cup with Super Impact (Real Impact), ridden by visiting jockey Michael Dee.

Training since 2018 in Singapore, Logan joined the Te Akau team on 1 January 2022 when Mark Walker returned to New Zealand. She ended her first season in the role by finishing second in the Trainers' Premiership, while Walker back at the helm for Te Akau in Matamata, recording his 10th Champion Trainer title with a record-breaking 203 wins last season in New Zealand.