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Logan returns to old stomping ground
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • July 10th, 2025 11:20 am
Byerley Park trainer Donna Logan | Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Donna Logan has been in a rebuilding phase since returning to New Zealand from Singapore late last year and she is excited to kick-off the careers of her Byerley Park stable’s foundation juveniles this weekend.
Logan will return to her old stomping ground of Ruakaka on Saturday, and she is excited to return to the place she called home for several decades.
“There will be a lot of people there we haven’t seen in a long time and it is always fun to go back up to Ruakaka,” Logan said. “It holds a strong place in my heart, so I am looking forward to the day out up there.”
Logan will kick-off the careers of three juveniles in the Promote Waipu (1200m), including Beat Of The Sun and Yokozuna, who she purchased at Karaka last year in preparation for her return to New Zealand.
“Beat Of The Sun I bought as a yearling when I was in Singapore, and my daughter (Samantha Logan) pre-trained him,” Logan said.
“To me, he is going to be a lovely, big staying type of horse, but we have to kick-off somewhere and it’s a very good surface at Ruakaka, so I figured it would be a good opportunity to make his debut.
“I bought Yokozuna at the same sale and Samantha pre-trained him as well. He is probably a more precocious type of horse than Beat Of The Sun and I would expect him to be a bit more prominent. He is not the greatest beginner in a race, but he’s definitely got some ability.”
Rounding out Logan’s representation in the race will be Reliable Man filly Conscribe, who will carry the colours of Westbury Stud principal Gerry Harvey, who has been a big backer of Logan’s since her return.
“She is a real pocket rocket and that is why I put the apprentice (Hayley Hassman) on her, she doesn’t do anything wrong and is very easy to ride,” Logan said.
Fellow Westbury product White Palace is also in contention to make her debut in the Northland Business Systems (1200m) but requires a couple of scratchings to make the field.
“White Palace is a nice horse with a lovely big stride on her,” Logan said. “She has trialled on wet tracks and we know she doesn’t like them so we are hoping for better footing for her and that is why we are heading to Ruakaka with her.”
Another stable runner heading north in search of more favourable footing is stable newcomer Ravenna Rose, who will contest the Tanalised Mile (1600m).
“Ravenna Rose was sent up to me by James and John Bridge,” Logan said. “They had her in the South Island but she does not like heavy tracks so they think she would be the sort of horse to race over the winter months at Ruakaka.
“She is a staying type of mare but we will see how she features fresh-up at a mile.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
