3 minute read

Blue was the colour of the day for trainer Donna Logan after two-year-old Burkaan scored his maiden win in the $85,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1000m on Sunday.

Burkaan is a recent stable transfer racing in the royal blue silks of the Al-Arabiya Stable and as luck would have it, his new handler decided she would dress in matching colours for the occasion.

The New Zealand trainer, who was bringing up only her second Kranji winner after Green Star on April 27, however, said it was just a coincidence.

“I didn’t know what to wear and the next thing I know, I saw a photo of myself in that blue dress, and I thought why not wear it today,” said Logan.

The former leading Ruakaka trainer might not have been too familiar with Al-Arabiya’s silks given she was saddling her first runner for Mr Mansor Gandhi’s outfit, but there is no doubt she will remember the jersey from now on.

“He’s a nice horse. He was caught wide all around, but CC (Wong Chin Chuen) gave him a lovely ride,” said Logan.

“Mark Walker trained him before, and he came to us in very good shape even if he’s still very green. It’s onwards and upwards from now on.

“On Friday, we were confident with Key Success, but we came back with our tail between our legs.

“But it’s good to get that second win today. Things are slowly falling into place at the yard.”

After a slower start than usual, Wong for one was thankful for the ride as his season starts to gain traction.

“Big thanks to the owner and the connections. They had this horse fit and ready for today, and putting blinkers on him was a good move,” said the two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey who has now hit the dozen, three behind current leader Troy See.

“I settled him on the outside as there was speed inside me. He had the lightweight, but he also has natural speed and with the blinkers, he was even sharper.

“If he can relax better, he will finish even better.”

Burkaan was indeed one of the smartest out of the machine but could not take the outright lead when Coup Bradman (Zawari Razali) kicked up on the inside.

But when Wong said go at the top of the straight, Burkaan ($39) no doubt felt wings sprouting with only 50kgs on his back.

Pinching a two-length break, the son of Burgundy looked home and hosed but did shorten up late as Kiss Your Song (John Powell) pulled some ground off him to whittle the margin down to three parts of a length.

Gamely (Barend Vorster) ran third another 1 ¼ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 0.11sec for the 1000m on the Polytrack.