Argentinian-bred galloper Eagle Eye finally broke through for his first win for trainer Donna Logan on Sunday.
The Pure Prize seven-year-old was once a Group performer for trainers Ricardo Le Grange and Michael Clements, albeit without flattering, knocking in one win apiece in lesser grade for his former mentors.
The Thai-owned chestnut has, however, struck a long run of outs in the two years he has been trained by Logan – until his 22nd start (and 38th overall) for the Kiwi handler, which came in Sunday's $50,000 Gilt Complex 2017 Stakes Class 4 Division 2 race over 1400m.
"He loves the track and distance, and everything went as planned. I was a bit concerned with the barrier (11) but Hakim (Kamaruddin) got him across nicely and rode him beautifully," said Logan.
"The key to this horse is he likes open air and not to be in amongst them. Hakim got him around nicely, and into a challenging position at the top of the straight.
"Horses just seem to run for Hakim."
Two pairs back in the running, Eagle Eye ($59) was indeed responding well to the leading apprentice jockey with an improving run when peeled out three wide from the 600m, but seemed to lose his pitch when he lugged out to the Grandstand upon straightening.
Hakim quickly took corrective action with Eagle Eye falling in line soon enough. Six horses were slogging away for a busy finish down the straight, but Eagle Eye kept whacking away on the outside to get up for a half-length win.
Less than a length split the other six in their struggle for a slice of the minors. Wild Bee (Iskandar Rosman) was the one who gained the runner-up spot by a nose from race-leader The Wild Bunch (Koh Teck Huat) with Asgard Massif (A'Isisuhairi Kasim) fourth another neck away.
Wecando (Marc Lerner) was running on stoutly, but peaked on his run to claim fifth place another half-length away, a short head from Takhi (Krisna Thangamani) and another head from Global Kid (Louis-Philippe Beuzelin) in seventh place. The winning time was 1min 23.51secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.
Eagle Eye's win was also in perfect timing as it probably got him off the Malaysian-bound float.
"The owner has had many wins with Good Luck Charm with us, but were close to sending Eagle Eye up to Malaysia," Logan revealed.
"Thankfully, they decided to keep supporting me by leaving the horse here and he's won a nice race today."
With that third win, Eagle Eye's earnings have tipped past the $200,000 mark for the Kajorn Petch Racing No 9 Stable, who enjoyed plenty of success with five-time winner Good Luck Charm with Logan, and has also recently sent a third horse to Logan in the previously Filipino-owned and Ricardo Le Grange-trained Pindus.
Resuming from a one-day suspension for careless riding, Hakim was taking the lead on Danny Beasley back to seven winners after the latter scored earlier aboard Lim's Kosciuszko (see earlier report). Hakim now sits on top on 56 winners, and with two meetings left, is odds-on to claim both the apprentice jockey and senior jockey's titles.
