A stable transfer is always a bit of a stab in the dark, but The Iceman’s (NZ) (Darci Brahma) maiden breakthrough at his very first start for trainer Donna Logan could not have come as a better stamp of approval the Kiwi handler was doing the right thing.
Gracious as usual, Logan deflected the praise to The Iceman’s previous trainer, Michael Clements, at the winner’s circle, taking only the credit for continuing the good job begun with the Darci Brahma four-year-old.
The third-year Kranji trainer from Pukekohe is selling herself a little short in owning the feat of translating a seamless move into a first win in the one-time runner-up in nine starts.
She did her homework and was spot-on in her instructions to reigning Singapore champion apprentice jockey Simon Kok Wei Hoong for that run in Sunday’s $20,000 Maiden race over 1400m.
“We’ve watched his races and I thought he was more of a chaser than a leader,” said Logan who most notably trains Polytrack mile record holder Tiger Force for The Iceman’s Thai connections.
“It’s good to have another winner for Krit (Chisatteni of Falcon Racing No 7 Stable). I’m extremely happy to have a good one winning for them, especially when those horses have a first run for you, you just don’t know how they will go.
“This one has been with us for only five weeks, and I have to say he came to us in beautiful order from Michael Clements and Chopsy (assistant-trainer Michael White). We just had to finish off the job.
“Mike is clearing up his stable for all the new horses coming through and we’re happy to take these horses. We needed that win and finally we’ve got our first 2020 winner out of the way.”
Eased back among the backmarkers from the start, The Iceman was never bustled up in the early stages with the ship steadied up by Titanium Force ahead of Barbarian.
But once The Iceman was set in motion as he crept up along the inside rails to take the shortcuts home, the complexion of the concluding stages soon became clear-cut.
Kok, who is already at his sixth success for 2020, said the instructions were to let The Iceman find his own strides in the running.
“Donna told me to ride him where comfortable. I watched his past runs and I saw that he is best ridden quiet,” said Kok.
“As he has a good turn of foot, I was not worried he was at the back of the field. At the 600m, I still had plenty in hand and he gave me a good feel when he went through the gap.
“When he went past CC Wong’s (Chin Chuen) horse, he lost his confidence a little, but he was too good in the end. I think the two-kilo claim (55.5kgs to 53.5kgs) helped, too.”
That maiden win at his 10th start has bumped The Iceman’s earnings to around the $40,000 mark for the Falcon Racing No 7 Stable.
