Kendall Jennings, The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

Logan McNeil’s first ride at Flemington has set a strong foundation for a growing Victorian Metro racing career for the Myall lad, following on strong rides at recent race meetings.

On the final day of 2021, Logan rode the six-year-old mare ‘Valoyd’ for a win over the 1200 metres at Echuca. January 1, Logan headed for his first Flemington appearance. The McNeil family making the trip to Melbourne to cheer him on. 

It was also the first time Logan rode for Grahame Begg and his trained gelding ‘Gracias Amigo,’ who had won races in February and March 2021. In an okay jump from barrier four, it was up to Logan to direct him 1,600 metres to the finish line. Around the 400-metre mark, McNeil wound up the gelding. By the 250-metre mark ‘Gracias Amigo’ captured the lead and couldn’t be reeled back in by the field, eventually winning by three-quarters of a length.

Speaking with proud parents Michelle and Darryl McNeil, “It was such a thrill. We went down to support him and watch his first ride at Flemington, as we did the same for Jye years ago. We didn’t think Logan would win at all on his first day; it was such a lovely surprise.”

On January 8, Logan rode another Grahame Begg trained horse, this time, a four-year-old mare ‘Vespertine’ for 1,100 metres. Her last win was in late January 2021; it was experience Logan was after. From barrier two, with an okay jump, she drifted back. 

Around the corner, ‘Vespertine’ had a lot to do. Then Logan directed her into the clear around the 100-metre mark, ‘Vespertine’ came from nowhere to win the race by .4 of a length, notching Logan’s 72nd career win.

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 13 January 2022.