Tom Logan celebrated first winning double on Saturday at Darwin

[Wandering Eyes]

Darwin trainer Tom Logan and partner Sonja Wiseman, one of the leading jockeys in the Northern Territory, taking their horses for a swim in Darwin Harbour at East Point, just around the corner from the famed Fannie Bay racecourse.

With partner and in-form jockey Sonja Wiseman in the saddle, Logan won the opening two races on the six-event program with Freddy The Eagle ($3.70) and Blueberry Boy ($3.80).

That made it four wins for the season for Logan and 12 career wins overall as a trainer after Fromthenevernever got the ball rolling on Melbourne Cup Day last year.

Logan, who has also worked in the racing industry in Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Alice Springs, currently has 12 horses in his stable and he, along with Wiseman, are certainly making a name for themselves in the Top End.

Five-year-old geldings Freddy The Eagle and Blueberry Boy were victorious on Saturday over 1300m (0-64) and 1200m (0-70), respectively.

Freddy The Eagle was a mile back before producing a spectacular finishing burst in the home straight to grab Chris Pollard’s unlucky $5.50 with Palmerbet hope Brimarvi Rooboy (Stan Tsaikos) right on the line.

Blueberry Boy was never far away when they jumped and sat on the fence behind the leaders before finding a gap along the rails approaching the home turn – he then went on to win by three lengths.

Freddy The Eagle, who failed to win a race in South Australia in 13 starts, won his first race in the NT over 1300m (0-54) on October 1.

Blueberry Boy, who raced in Victoria and SA on 14 occasions for one win, was a last start winner over 1200m (Class 2) on September 10.

On May 21, Blueberry Boy won on his Fannie Bay debut over 1100m (BM54) before finishing second in his next two starts over 1200m (0-58 and BM54) in August.

“He started really well Tommy when he had Poupee and Fromthenevernever, but then he went through a lean patch,” Thoroughbred Racing Northern Territory chief executive officer Andrew O’Toole said.

“He didn’t have great success in the lead up to the Darwin Cup Carnival, but he has since built up his numbers steadily.

“He’s bought fairly shrewdly and he may soon need more stables at Fannie Bay.”

Other horses in the Logan stable include Blueant, Debasement, Malibu Edition, Little Kibo, Virtuous Miss, Bear Forever, Euphegenia and Brazen Boy.

Logan purchased Freddy The Eagle at the 2022 Magic Millions Darwin Select Horse Sale in July during the Darwin Cup Carnival.

He initially had no interest in the horse before his cousin twisted his arm and then Logan came close to missing out on buying the horse before circumstances allowed him to finalise the purchase at the 11th hour.

“Considering Freddy The Eagle won a 0-54 as a maiden on October 1 and then he jumped up to a 0-64 and he won that too, Tom is doing a pretty good job,” O’Toole said.

“Tom is a former jumps jockey, he knows the ups and the downs.

“He never gets too excited, but at the same time he is a pretty good horseman.

“Obviously worked for many years for Darren Weir in Victoria.

“You can say what you like about Darren Weir, but Tom no doubt learned a lot working for him.

“He and Sonja are a pretty good team.”

In a remarkable coincidence, three other horses also made it back to back wins at Fannie Bay on Saturday.

The Chloe Baxter-trained To The Point (Paul Shiers), a four-year-old gelding from Victoria, prevailed over 1100m (BM54) after winning an 1100m maiden in his first Darwin start on October 1.

The Chris Pollard-trained four-year-old mare Cudjerie (Tsaikos), unplaced in her first four career starts in the Top End, won over 1000m (Class 2) after saluting over 1000m (0-58) on September 10.

The Mark Nyhan-trained Bat Pad (Wiseman), who has raced in three other states started life in the tropics with two seconds and two third thirds, won over 1000m (Class 2) after the five-year-old mare got the cash over 1200m (0-58) on October 1.

In the final race, the Gary Clarke-trained Prince Ruban (Jarrod Todd) won over 1600m (0-58), but before a last start fourth on October 1 the five-year-old gelding won over 1600m (0-58) on September 3.

On Sunday, the back to back trend continued at Alice Springs when Lisa Whittle’s nine-year-old gelding Harbour Express (Paul Denton) won over 1200m (0-58) after sealing victory over 1200m (BM54) on October 8.

Meanwhile, Leah Walling-Denton’s 10-year-old mare Roughly (Wiseman) won her fourth race in her past seven starts over 1600m (BM65).

Cyclonite (Denton) last won on May 29 and finished unplaced in his next six starts before the seven-year-old gelding bounced back over 1100m (0-70) to make it a winning double for Whittle.

Kevin Lamprecht’s four-year-old gelding Ginger Creek (Ianish Luximon) and Will Savage’s five-year-old gelding Mackinaw (Wiseman) both won their first race at Pioneer Park over 1100m (Class 2) and 1100m (BM54), respectively.

15/10/22 Darwin Race 1 Replay – Freddy The Eagle

15/10/22 Darwin Race 2 Replay – Blueberry Boy

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