Spalato Looking for Bounce-Back Effort in Sprint

At home in Singapore, Spalato (NZ) (Elusive City) was an unstoppable force, and between May and July of 2014, went from being unraced to winning his maiden by nearly 10 lengths going 1000 meters over the Kranji Polytrack to proving imperious in adding the Singapore Derby by better than four lengths going 10 furlongs on the turf. 

Given a breather by trainer John O’Hara and with an international raid clearly in the crosshairs, the gelding dominated his rivals in a pair of grass sprints at Kranji and was penciled in for the G2 Jockey Club Sprint Nov. 23. For all intents and purposes, Spalato’s fate was sealed when he drew post 13 in that field of 14, and while the victorious Peniaphobia (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) over came the widest post that day, Spalato petered out in the straight to finish next to last as the 11-2 third choice. He was also racing right-handed for the first time on that occasion, and connections are cautiously optimistic that he’ll improve for the experience this weekend. Regular rider Manoel Nunes, who missed the Jockey Club Sprint, with a wrist injury, replaces James McDonald in the saddle. 

“He cantered this morning and he looks alright,” assistant trainer David Shepherd reported. “He had a few problems after his first run here but he seems to be over them now. Racing the opposite direction for the first time, we think he just tweaked a few muscles behind. It’s handy we’ve had the extra time here for him to get over those few issues. He’ll have a gallop [Wednesday] morning.” 

John O’Hara began his training career in 1992 as an assistant to his cousin Ivan Allan, who won the 1998 G1 Hong Kong Vase with Indigenous (Ire) (Marju {Ire}). After relinquishing his license in 2000, he reapplied and returned to the training ranks in Singapore in 2009. Spalato is by far his most-accomplished runner.