New Kranji trainer Donna Logan’s budding yard is set to grow further when the horse heralded as the one to spearhead her team, multiple-Group 1 winner Volkstok’n’barrell, lands in Singapore on Thursday.

The 56-year-old New Zealander has in the meantime already begun the preparation of 10 horses in earnest. They all hail from her former Ruakaka yard, which she used to share with former training partner Chris Gibbs.

From the first arrivals on January 26 to the latest, two unnamed two-year-olds by Helmet and Dawn Approach, who just moved into their boxes on Monday (15 more are tagged to follow suit later), Logan couldn’t be happier with the way things have evolved since her arrival with husband Peter Woods on February 7.

No doubt, the swimming pool accident in which she seriously hurt her jaw back home earlier in the year, did throw a spanner in the works, but things have bounced back and run smoothly since, be it logistically with the horses’ arrival, or her own settling in a new country.

Logan may be the winner of more than 850 races including 60 at Group and Listed level, but she sounded all excited with her “new beginnings”.

Just from the way she kept a watchful eye on Tuesday trialler Whakaaria Mai, both during the hit-out under fellow Kiwi jockey Craig Grylls and afterwards as the Showcasing three-year-old was hand-walked back at the stables, one could sense how the horsewoman was leaving no stone unturned as she makes sure her new adventure gets off to the best possible start.

“I get a shudder at the way things have worked out so well since we arrived,” said Logan.

“It was always the plan to start small so I get used to the place. We also want to teach our staff our own way of doing things, but at the same time, our local staff has been really helpful in showing us, Peter, (assistant-trainer) Graeme (Forbes) and myself how certain things are done here.

“We’ve got 10 horses at the stables – all from our owners from back home – and they have settled in really well. Volkstok’n’barrell leaves New Zealand this afternoon and will arrive here tomorrow night.

“Four of our horses have already trialled, and I would say all my horses are pretty much at the same stage. Once they complete the necessary trials, they should be ready to race.

Assistant-trainer Graeme Forbes gives Whakaaria Mai a nice hose-down after his barrier trial, picture Singapore Turf Club

“This morning, Whakaaria Mai pulled up at the top of the straight as he’s only done two 800m trials back home, but he was spot-on. Craig was happy with him.

“He’s owned by Kiwis, Ashley Goodwin and Michael Pereira, as well as my real estate agent who wanted to buy a share into him. We purposely didn’t race him back home as we wanted him to run in the $85,000 Restricted Maiden races here.

“As for the two-year-old's, I won’t rush them. If they make it for the two-year-old series, it’ll be a bonus, but I’d rather just give them all the time they need to come through.”

Logan is also keen to have a good mix of Kiwis and locals, not only among the people at the coalface; the stable and riding staff, but also the owners.

“I’m lucky to have very good local staff, headed by Eddie Wong, our stable supervisor, who has a lot of experience,” said Logan.

“My apprentice jockey is Desmond Chan (Wei Sheng formerly with Kuah Cheng Tee) and he’s a very hard-working young man. We brought him luck as shortly after he joined us, he won his first race for the year here, on Lucky Boy for KY (Keah Yong) Young.

“I also have Craig and (Erasmus) Aslam to help me with trackwork. I will of course be using them in races as well.

“I’ve also had some local owners who approached me. We are taking steady steps in that direction.

“I have 38 boxes at The Village (name of her stable block) and I still have a lot more room left!”