Spalato
STC
Spalato (NZ) ( Elusive City) turned in a display of sheer class when he coasted away to a most commanding win in the $350,000 Group 2 Merlion Trophy (1200m) on Sunday.
The John O'Hara-trained star was never in doubt at any stage of the race, taking a tow behind Kiwi Karma (NZ) (Fast 'n' Famous), three wide for most of the way but jogging along, seemingly without spending a penny. The writing of a rout was clearly on the wall when jockey Corey Brown was seen still sitting pretty aboard the $8 favourite as they swung for the run to the judge, just raring to rip up the last 300m stretch of Polytrack at any second.
The moment that followed shortly after Brown decided it was time to push the button was a sight to behold. The Mackies' champion galloper obeyed almost at will, careering away with a blistering burst of speed that left his eight rivals reeling in his wake.
WATCH: Replay of the G2 Merlion Trophy
El Padrino (NZ) (Mr Nacho) came with his customary late surge inside the last furlong, but he was up against a different kettle of fish this time, though still gallant in defeat. Bowing to this superlative power, the title holder of the two previous Merlion Trophies would not add his name for a record third time, settling for second place just under four lengths off Spalato.
Tried as she might, Kiwi Karma could only run third, another gap of 5 ΒΌ lengths away. With the early frantic speed set by the duelling trio of Faaltless, Happy Money and Wimbledon, the resulting winning time was a smart 1min 10.96secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack.
The first three home were among six horses picked to represent Singapore at the Dubai World Cup meeting on March 26, but who will now focus on the races at home following the non-invitation of Singapore horses amid concerns from the Dubai Racing Club about the recent Strangles cases at Kranji.
Winning trainer John O'Hara said there was not much point in wondering about "what ifs" with the Dubai deal over. The Elusive City six-year-old was back to his best if not better, and the venue mattered little to him.
"You always worry in horse racing even if on paper today's race should be easier than his first-up win when he gave weight all round," said the Singaporean trainer.
"But he showed today he was back to his best. He was simply the best horse today and it doesn't matter whether he showed it here, Dubai or anywhere."
O'Hara is counting his blessings with the horse he described as the best he has ever trained.
After a phenomenal four-year-old season in 2014, Spalato went through a topsy-turvy career last year even though he recovered from a hip injury sustained in Hong Kong and which sidelined him until July 2015. He did bounce back with back-to-back Group 3 wins first-up (Woodlands Handicap and Jumbo Jet Trophy) but he was then well beaten in the Group 1 Panasonic Kranji Mile (1600m) before another health setback, an abnormal blood count saw him scratched from the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1800m).
"I'll see how he pulls up but I don't think he will be running in the Kranji Sprint. It's a handicap race and he will get the topweight," said O'Hara.
"I'd rather take him straight to the Lion City Cup."
The Merlion Trophy, which was upgraded to Group 2 this year, the Group 3 Kranji Sprint on April 3 and the Group 1 Lion City Cup on April 24 are the three Legs (all over 1200m) of the Singapore Sprint Series which carries a bonus of $50,000 to the winner of two Legs and $150,000 for a clean sweep.
Brown has now ridden two from two aboard Spalato, with the first time as a last-minute replacement for injured jockey Michael Rodd. Time will tell whether he is just warming the saddle for his fellow Australian, but it would be hard to unseat him from Spalato after those two perfect jobs.
"It's such a pleasure to ride this horse. Obviously it's Michael's misfortune, but thanks Roddy," said Brown in a nod to his good friend.
"He could have been my ticket to travel to Dubai, but unfortunately he is not going. I never rode a winner there, but who knows.
"I had a good spot behind Kiwi Karma in the race but I thought there would be more speed in the race. At the 600m, he was still relaxed and as we circled the field, he went up one gear and he was really impressive to the line.
"I could feel El Padrino coming and I thought if he is on song he could get us, but Spalato was just too good. I think there is some improvement to come from him and John still has something to work with."
Spalato has now brought his imposing record to 10 wins from 13 starts for stakes earnings in excess of $1.63 million for Graham Mackie and Trish Dunell.
The John O'Hara-trained star was never in doubt at any stage of the race, taking a tow behind Kiwi Karma (NZ) (Fast 'n' Famous), three wide for most of the way but jogging along, seemingly without spending a penny. The writing of a rout was clearly on the wall when jockey Corey Brown was seen still sitting pretty aboard the $8 favourite as they swung for the run to the judge, just raring to rip up the last 300m stretch of Polytrack at any second.
The moment that followed shortly after Brown decided it was time to push the button was a sight to behold. The Mackies' champion galloper obeyed almost at will, careering away with a blistering burst of speed that left his eight rivals reeling in his wake.
WATCH: Replay of the G2 Merlion Trophy
El Padrino (NZ) (Mr Nacho) came with his customary late surge inside the last furlong, but he was up against a different kettle of fish this time, though still gallant in defeat. Bowing to this superlative power, the title holder of the two previous Merlion Trophies would not add his name for a record third time, settling for second place just under four lengths off Spalato.
Tried as she might, Kiwi Karma could only run third, another gap of 5 ΒΌ lengths away. With the early frantic speed set by the duelling trio of Faaltless, Happy Money and Wimbledon, the resulting winning time was a smart 1min 10.96secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack.
The first three home were among six horses picked to represent Singapore at the Dubai World Cup meeting on March 26, but who will now focus on the races at home following the non-invitation of Singapore horses amid concerns from the Dubai Racing Club about the recent Strangles cases at Kranji.
Winning trainer John O'Hara said there was not much point in wondering about "what ifs" with the Dubai deal over. The Elusive City six-year-old was back to his best if not better, and the venue mattered little to him.
"You always worry in horse racing even if on paper today's race should be easier than his first-up win when he gave weight all round," said the Singaporean trainer.
"But he showed today he was back to his best. He was simply the best horse today and it doesn't matter whether he showed it here, Dubai or anywhere."
O'Hara is counting his blessings with the horse he described as the best he has ever trained.
After a phenomenal four-year-old season in 2014, Spalato went through a topsy-turvy career last year even though he recovered from a hip injury sustained in Hong Kong and which sidelined him until July 2015. He did bounce back with back-to-back Group 3 wins first-up (Woodlands Handicap and Jumbo Jet Trophy) but he was then well beaten in the Group 1 Panasonic Kranji Mile (1600m) before another health setback, an abnormal blood count saw him scratched from the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1800m).
"I'll see how he pulls up but I don't think he will be running in the Kranji Sprint. It's a handicap race and he will get the topweight," said O'Hara.
"I'd rather take him straight to the Lion City Cup."
The Merlion Trophy, which was upgraded to Group 2 this year, the Group 3 Kranji Sprint on April 3 and the Group 1 Lion City Cup on April 24 are the three Legs (all over 1200m) of the Singapore Sprint Series which carries a bonus of $50,000 to the winner of two Legs and $150,000 for a clean sweep.
Brown has now ridden two from two aboard Spalato, with the first time as a last-minute replacement for injured jockey Michael Rodd. Time will tell whether he is just warming the saddle for his fellow Australian, but it would be hard to unseat him from Spalato after those two perfect jobs.
"It's such a pleasure to ride this horse. Obviously it's Michael's misfortune, but thanks Roddy," said Brown in a nod to his good friend.
"He could have been my ticket to travel to Dubai, but unfortunately he is not going. I never rode a winner there, but who knows.
"I had a good spot behind Kiwi Karma in the race but I thought there would be more speed in the race. At the 600m, he was still relaxed and as we circled the field, he went up one gear and he was really impressive to the line.
"I could feel El Padrino coming and I thought if he is on song he could get us, but Spalato was just too good. I think there is some improvement to come from him and John still has something to work with."
Spalato has now brought his imposing record to 10 wins from 13 starts for stakes earnings in excess of $1.63 million for Graham Mackie and Trish Dunell.