By Alan Carasso
The Merlion Trophy attracted arguably Singapore's top three sprinters and its reigning Horse of the Year, but Spalato (NZ) (Elusive City) made light work of the field to consolidate his spot at the top of the division.
The nation's champion 4-year-old after defeating Stepitup (Aus) (Hussonet) in the 2014 Singapore Derby, Spalato failed to mix it with some of the world's top sprinters in Hong Kong and suffered a hip injury in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint that saw him sidelined for the best part of eight months. Kept at shorter trips since then, he dropped a narrow decision when giving away loads of weight in the EW Barker Trophy H. over 1400 grassy metres last November and most recently returned from a spell to take five-furlong test over this Polytrack Feb. 14.
Fairly away in the Merlion, Spalato settled in midpack through the opening couple of furlongs as a three-pronged duel ensued up ahead. Flushed out into about the five path by the fleet filly Kiwi Karma (NZ) (Fast N' Famous {Aus}), Spalato ambled up to challenge under a hold at the head of the lane, opened a comfortable advantage and charged home to a convincing victory. El Padrino (NZ) (Mr Nancho {Arg}) looked to toss his head at the break and lingered at the back early on. He rallied smartly into the final 200, prompting Corey Brown atop the winner to resort to the whip, and finished a clear second. Kiwi Karma was a distant third while Stepitup, the 2015 HOTY, closed off belatedly for third over this insufficient distance.
The top three home were all ticketed for the Dubai World Cup meeting, but a Strangles outbreak has dashed those plans. Trainer John O'Hara is content to play the hand he's been dealt and is happy to focus on a domestic campaign.
“You always worry in horse racing even if on paper today's race should be easier than his first-up win,” 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.”
Spalato is likely to give the Apr. 3 Kranji Sprint–the second leg of the local Sprint Series–a miss.
“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 [1200mT, Apr. 24].” Click for the Singapore Turf Club chart. VIDEO.
MERLION TROPHY, S$350,000 (€231,194/£178,943), Kranji, 3-6, 3yo/up, 1200m (AWT), 1:10.96, st.
1–SPALATO (NZ), 127, g, 6, Elusive City–Ellington (NZ), by Express Duke (Aus). O-Graham Christopher Mackie; B-P A Dunell; T-John O'Hara; J-Corey Brown; S$208,250. Lifetime Record: Ch. 4yo-Sin, 14-10-1-0, S$1,663,213.
2–El Padrino (NZ), 127, g, 7, Mr Nancho (Arg)–Crownie (Aus), by Luskin Star (Aus). (NZ$10,000 Wlg '10 NZBWNL). O-One Eight Eight Stable. S$74,375.
3–Kiwi Karma (NZ), 123, f, 4, Fast N' Famous (Aus)–Miss Purrfection (NZ), by One Cool Cat. O-Dsands Racing Stable. S$37,625.
Margins: 3 3/4, 5 1/4, 1. Odds: 0.60, 3.20, 4.40.
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