Trainer Donna Logan’s faith in her apprentice jockey Desmond Chan Wei Sheng was repaid manifold with a 10-out-of-10 handling of Emergency Acceptor Burkaan in the $50,000 Class 4 race over 1200m on Sunday.
After three runners were scratched from the original 12-horse field, Burkaan was promoted as a starter with Logan giving Chan the nod for the ride.
The Kiwi handler could have picked a more fashionable rider, given the Singaporean lad had yet to open both his 2019 account and win account for her boss (his two 2018 wins were for Young Keah Yong on Lucky Boy), but her gut feel and staff loyalty - with a push from the owner as well - swayed her.
“Desmond rode him a treat. He works very hard and that’s what I told him before the race, ‘hard work always pays off’,” said Logan.
“I just told him not to panic and he rode a perfect race. That will help boost his confidence.”
Mr Mansoor Gandhi, principal owner of the Al-Arabiya Stable which was incidentally picking up their first 2019 win with Burkaan, was not without a say in Chan’s booking.
“I asked Donna to put Desmond on Burkaan as the lad is hard-working and he deserved his chance on the horse,” said Mr Mansoor.
“She appreciated my decision. We all work as a team and it’s paid off and I’m very happy for Desmond.”
After a smart jump, Chan scrubbed the Burgundy three-year-old up to take up a prominent spot outside early leader Master Of Malibu (Juan Paul van der Merwe), just poking his head in front throughout.
Once Chan pulled the trigger at the top of the straight, Burkaan ($62) lengthened up nicely to sail away to an emphatic 3 ¾-length win from Crouching Sun (Troy See). Odds-on favourite Winning Hobby (Ben Thompson) came from an untenable spot at the rear to sprint home late for third place another half-length away.
The winning time was 1min 12.22secs for the 1200m on Polytrack.
“This horse is pretty genuine. He’s been ultra-consistent this year,” said Logan.
“We won’t push any buttons and panic, we’ll just take him through his grades.”
Chan was delighted he had finally ridden a first winner for the person who helps pay his bills.
“It’s a big thrill to ride my first winner for Donna. Big thanks to her and also the Al-Arabiya Stable for putting me on this horse,” said Chan who transferred his indentures to the New Zealander from the first day she landed at Kranji in January 2018.
“I’m just the rider, the trainer and the stable have done all the job. I had plenty in hand throughout and he just carried it to the line.
“He was a little keen and as he raced over 1100m the last time, I tried to relax him and save his energy for as long as I could.”
Burkaan has now taken his record to two wins and two placings from 10 starts for stakes earnings closing in on the $100,000 mark for the Al-Arabiya Stable.
