Te Akau Singapore Stable Flying
29 May, 2022
Te Akau Singapore trainer Donna Logan is on fire - recording doubles or trebles of winners every weekend for the last four weekends! In special news, Saturday's racing (yes another winning double) saw Donna also bring up her 100thwin in Singapore.
Two weeks ago, our Singapore stable contributed three winners during a remarkable 24-hour stretch that contained 10 winners for her and Mark Walker.
Among the three wins on 14 May was Reignite (4 g Sebring - Risk Aversion, by Encosta de Lago), ridden by Champion Jockey Manoel Nunes, who gained his fourth win for Te Akau Racing Stable.
Originally an $800,000 purchase at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Reignite was later acquired by David Ellis CNZM for $80,000 at the 2020 Inglis August Online Sale and syndicated among Te Akau owners by Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM.
Another Ellis purchase for Te Akau owners syndicated by Karyn, Stenmark (4 g Medaglia d'Oro - Scandiva, by Fastnet Rock) was among two winners for Logan Saturday week ago at Kranji racecourse.
Having won last November for trainer Mark Walker, before Mark returned home to take up the reins at Matamata, Stenmark was rated a top four chance by Logan in the $50,000 Class 4 1200 metres, who suggested he would be competitive if able to begin cleanly.
Ridden by Champion Apprentice Hakim Kamaruddn (a1), indentured to Logan, Stenmark was tardy to begin before recovering three back inner and showed terrific endeavour when changing course a couple in the straight to win very well.
Stenmark paid $14.60 & $3.80 on the NZ TAB tote.
“It was a lovely win after the mishap last start where he lost his rider,†said Logan, who moved to second in the training premiership.
“He'd been showing in track work that he was ready to go a big race, so I'm pleased he was able to get another win for the owners.
“He was still a little bit slow to begin, but Hakim (Kamaruddin) used his brains and got him going and found a lovely position. It was a very good ride and it ended up being a huge performance to win.
“He's had some back issues, but we have got those sorted out and he raced like a horse that can win more races as long as he remains in good order.â€
Making it two wins from four starts, Silent Is Gold (3 g Star Turn - Confident, by Not A Single Doubt) provided Logan with her second win on the card when successful in the $75,000 Novice 1200 metres.
Ridden by Ronald Stewart, Silent Is Gold was shadowed in front throughout but gained an advantage at the 300m and raced clear to win easily by two and three-quarter lengths.
Clocking 1:08.7 for 1200 metres, Silent Is Gold paid $4.80 & $1.80 on the NZ TAB tote.
This weekend the winning continued firstly with Flashfast who motored home in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race (1600m) to give trainer Donna her 100th winner in Singapore. It was also a much-needed fillip for Donna after she flew home after the Kranji Mile meeting last week to attend her mother-in-law's funeral.
Assistant trainer Jasuli Sulaiman was pleased with the win.
“She will be rapt with this win,†Jasuli said in reference to Logan, who flies back to Singapore on Monday.
“We expected him to have a good run in this race. It was a small field, he had a good run at his last start (in a similar race over the 1400m on April 30) and also in the trial (second on May 19). He was not easy to train at first, but he's getting better and has settled down a lot now.
The three-year-old son of Dream Ahead was positioned nicely behind leader Legacy Reign (Oscar Chavez) upon turning as newcomer Rey Elvis (Matthew Kellady) faded and Liebestraum (Wong Chin Chuen) commenced his assault.
As Nunes scrubbed up his mount for the final sprint to the line, the $7 favourite duly responded, holding Liebestraum off by three-quarters-of-a-length into second place. Legacy Reign looked half a chance to break the duck for local trainer Leslie Khoo, but could only finish third another length away.
The winning time was 1 min 36.71secs over 1600m on the Short Course.
Nunes was adamant Flashfast would excel over even more ground.
“He's a big and beautiful horse. To me, he's a stayer,†said the tearaway leader.
“It's always a little trickier to ride in a small field. I didn't want him to overrace, so I was happy when they crossed me and he was relaxed. The 1200m was too sharp for him, he wants longer.
“He's improved from his last start, so the 1400m, 1600m and even further will suit him when he matures more next time. He's a lovely horse. I'm happy to get the 100th win for Donna, the staff that have worked hard and for the connections, too.â€
With that first win and a placing from three starts, Flashfast has now taken his earnings to more than $55,000 for the Treasure Island Stable.
This weekend's double was completed by Axel (6 g Darci Brahma - Josephines Fortune, by Encosta de Lago) in the hands of Te Akau apprentice Jerlyn Seow prevailed in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1700m.
The evergreen galloper was purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $55,000 at the NZB Ready to Run Sale and has now won seven races, with 10 second and eight third placings. His owners, including long-time Te Akau friends Gavin and Shane Wealleans, have had a terrific time with this six year old who has now won just over $400,000 during his time in Singapore.
Another key component to Te Akau's Singapore success this year has been the support of Fortuna Racing - John Galvin and his team of owners race a good number of horses such as recent winners King Arthur, Olympia, Deception and Brutus among recent winners and are enjoying a season of success on the track.
Having trained since 2018 in Singapore, Logan was only too happy to take up the training role for Te Akau at the start of the season (1 January).
“I absolutely love it, thrilled to bits, and couldn't be any happier,†she said. “We've got some nice young horses ready to kick off, so that's always exciting, and the team overall is going well.â€
During his 10 years qt the helm of Te Akau Singapore, Walker was Champion Trainer in 2015, 2017 (record 87 wins), 2019, and 2021 with 66 wins, also runner-up three times, third, and fourth, adding to his five NZ premierships.