El Padrino To Fly Flag for Singapore at Meydan

El Padrino (NZ) (Mr Nancho {Arg}), who carried American jockey David Flores to an upset victory in the Merlion Trophy at Singapore’s Kranji Racecourse Mar. 14, is a late addition to the field for the $2-million G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan Mar. 29. Trained by Alvin Tan, who worked for trainers John Ward and Murray Johnson during a stint in Kentucky from 2002 to 2006, El Padrino made three starts during the Dubai International Racing Carnival in 2012, winning a 1400-meter handicap over the Tapeta track before finishing unplaced in a pair of subsequent appearances. Sent off at odds of 11.80-1 in the Merlion Trophy and drawn one from the outside, El Padrino drifted back to the tail of a fairly compact bunch for the opening 800 meters, but exploded when switched out to the grandstand side in the stretch and drew off to score by five handy lengths (video). Word came Tuesday of the late call-up for World Cup night. “It’s very exciting and I’m looking forward to it,” said Tan, a former Republic of Singapore Air Force regular. Flores will not be in the saddle for the Shaheen, as Oscar Chavez, who had ridden the gelding in each of his 23 prior starts, will jump back aboard.