BANKING ON LIGHT LOAD AND LADY LUCK

Logan’s mare Istataba should be back to her best even if mile is as short as she wants it’

- 

Trainer Donna Logan is hoping a winnable weight and a little nudge from Lady Luck can see Istataba, the only mare in her stable, home in the $85,000 Class 21,600m race on May 4.

The New Zealand conditioner acquired the Argentinian-bred five-year-old from former Kranji trainer Michael Clements in October 2023 and nearly struck gold at their very first outing together.

Istataba finished a career-high third at Group 1 level behind Lim's Kosciuszko and Dream Alliance in the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup (2,000m) on Nov 11.

The result seemed to suggest the daughter of Treasure Beach was enjoying the feminine touch.

But, after that, she ran unplaced in a Class 3 race (1,600m) on Feb 11, albeit held up at the 300m, followed by a third and a fifth over the same trip in the same company on March 9 and April 21 respectively.

Those results tempered any shortterm plans of grandeur.