SPALATO flies kiwi flag in Singapore Derby

While not a Fortuna horse (unfortunately), the success of NZ owned and bred SPALATO in the Singapore Derby on Sunday 13th July was a success well worthy of celebration by all of those  involved in racing thoroughbreds in Singapore. Unbelievably, SPALATO, a 4yo Gelded son of Elusive City, had his first ever race day start on the 4th May, winning that event by 9.8 lengths. Another commanding victory winning by 4.5 lengths on the 18th May was to follow. A few eyebrows were raised when connections then made the decision to start SPALATO in the Group One Patrons Bowl on 22nd June, but the horse duly delivered, even if the margin was only a nose. Questions again were  posed about SPALATO’s ability to handle the 2000 metre trip of the Derby, given that his three previous victories had been at 1000, 1400 and 1600 metres respectively, but in a stunning display of power, SPALATO, in the hands of Champion Singapore jockey, Manuel Nunes, simply sprinted away from his rivals in the straight, winning by 4.3 lengths. Click HERE to watch race replay.

Bred in New Zealand out of the mare, Ellington (by Duke Express) by the well known equine photographer, Trish Dunnell and raced by Trish and her husband Graham Mackie, SPALATO has now won approx S$940,000 in just four race day starts plus collected a further S$50,000 as a bonus for winning the Derby. SPALATO will now go for a well deserved break and no firm plans have been announced for his future racing direction, but as well as the wonderful prize money on offer in Singapore, there are bound to be plans being hatched by Trainer John O’Hara and the connections for forays to Dubai or Hong Kong for this very talented New Zealand bred racehorse.