Winner to Celebrate Singapore Season Finale

Te Akau Singapore trainer Donna Logan ended the season winning on Saturday 30 December at Kranji Racecourse, when China Pearl (3g Ardrossan – Indian Sky, by Stravinsky) took out the $20,000 Maiden 1400 metres on turf.

A Ready To Run Sale graduate from 2022 at Karaka, from the draft of Phoenix Park, China Pearl was purchased for $70,000 by Logan and David Ellis CNZM, and is owned by Kajorn Petch Racing No 9 Stable.

The win followed the success on 17 December of Commander ( g U S Navy Flag – Quest, by Volksraad), whom Logan and Ellis purchased the same sale for $90,000.

Both China Pearl and Commander share similarities, being from impressive winning race mares. Commander became the third individual winner of his dam Quest (Volksraad), an impressive winner of five races (2000m – 2200m), while the dam of China Pearl, Indian Sky, impressed winning seven times over 1400 metres and now left five winners of eight races. 

Prior to the race, Logan said China Pearl had raced greenly at his previous start and was still learning, but winning form came from the race and she rated him a top four chance from barrier three.

Ridden by stable apprentice Jamil Sarwi (a3), China Pearl raced between runners beyond midfield but showed courage over the final furlong when spearing through a gap to win stylishly.

On Good footing, China Pearl ran 1400 metres in 1:23.4 and paid $2.80 & $1.40 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“I’ve always liked him and he’s quite a striking individual, really athletic, and although not quick to mature, he has won at his third start,” Logan said.

“I was holding my breath for a while, not sure whether he would take the gap, but Jamil pushed him through and it was a tough win. There was some give in the ground and I think that suited him, too.

“I’ll see how he pulls up, both physically and mentally, and that will determine whether we push on with him at the moment. 

“He’s still very young, but he is showing me that he could get over some ground, so I’m hoping he could possibly show up in the final legs of the Three-Year-Old Series. 

“It’s great to see that China Pearl and Commander have won out that Ready To Run Sale at Karaka, and they’re both promising horses.”

China Pearl became the first Singapore winner for young Waikato Stud stallion Ardrossan (Redoute’s Choice), who is already making a name for himself with 10 individual winners, including NZ stakes' winners Codigo, Loch Katrine, and Saltcoats. 

China Pearl carries a Northern Dancer cross through his sire lines. 

Logan also praised apprentice Jamil Sarwi, who finished second (12 wins) on the apprentice jockey table and two behind Jerlyn Seow.

“We had the leading apprentice last season when Yusoff Fadzli won, and Jamil started to ride really confidently later in the year and I’ve been taken with how he’s stepped up.”

“We’ve also got Ibrahim Mamat (a3) as an apprentice and a new apprentice kicking off in the New Year.”

Training since 2018 in Singapore, Logan took over training for Te Akau from Mark Walker on 1 January 2022, and ended her first season finishing second in the premiership.

Walker was Singapore Champion Trainer in 2015, 2017 (record 87 wins), 2019, and 2021, also runner-up three times, third, and fourth.

Logan, who won the $110,000 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (Gr. 3, 1200m) with January (3 g Swiss Ace – Musically, by Belong To Me), ended the season with 35 wins, finishing among a cluster of trainers finishing third to eighth with 39 to 32 wins apiece.