Fairway's Turf Online

Spalato wins Luzerne Cup in record time

SINGAPORE: Oct 26, 2014

SPALATO cruising to victory in the Luzerne Cup - SNTC photo

Hong Kong-bound SPALATO got the perfect send-off when he romped to a record-breaking win in the S$125,000 Luzerne Cup (1200m) at Kranji here today, and stretched his unbeaten run to six.

A change rider to Sydney champion jockey James McDonald, who replaced the injured (wrist) Manoel Nunes, did not prevent the New Zealand five-year-old coasting home by four lengths in a time of 1min. 8.15secs., slicing 0.59 second off the previous best set by FAALTLESS on the long course six weeks ago. FAALTLESS finished second today.

It was a remarkable effort for SPALATO who won the Patrons' Bowl (1600m) last June followed by the Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) a month later.

Since his return to racing after a short break, he has won both his two starts over 1200m this month.

SPALATO, trained by John O'Hara, will head to Hong Kong to contest the Group 2 Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) on Nov 23 and his ultimate tarest, the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) in December.

"He was very impressive again. We haven’t got to the bottom of him yet," O'Hara said of his win today.

McDonald, who was on a one-day visit to ride STEPITUP in the Raffles Cup (finishing third), also picked up a winning ride on AFTERNOON DELIGHT (again replacing Nunes).

RESULTS AT A GLANCE: Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position

	SUPER NINETYSEVEN 2013 STAKES
1	KRANJI STAKES D, DIV 3 - 1200M
8	GOOD BOSS	ZL Mok	J See	1
	(6 b.ir.g Danroad - On The Waterline by Compton Place)
10	Roma	H Takaoka	Zaki	2
5	Hakamgong	D Koh	T Rehaizat	3
4	Acoustic	S Burridge	Chavez	4

	FLAX 2012 STAKES
2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1200M
9	LIM'S RALLY	L Dragon	Soo	1
	(3 b/br.nz.g O'Reilly - Bella Valentina by Pins)
7	Great Sun	M Freedman	CW Brown	2
8	Hee's Forte	L Laxon	Saifudin	3
6	French Vintage	S Baertschiger	D Beasley	4

	ALWAYS CERTAIN 2011 STAKES
3	CLASS 3 - 1600M
7	SMART IDEA	B Marsh	D Flores	1
	(6 b.nz.g Keeninsky - La Romanina by Vialli)
5	Chinese Culture	M Freedman	Saifudin	2
6	Pole Paradise	ZL Mok	J See	3
2	Board Walk	P Shaw	R Zawari	4

	BETTER THAN EVER 2010 STAKES
4	KRANJI STAKED D, DIV 2 - 1200M
3	RED RIVER ROCK	B Dean	R Zawari	1
	(5 b.a.g Red Dazzler - Boganvillia by Centaine)
4	Demon King	M Freedman	D Beasley	2
2	Mexican Gal	L Laxon	J McDonald	3
1	Iking	M Walker	CW Brown	4

	LUZERNE CUP
5	OPEN (CW) - 1200M
1	SPALATO	O'Hara	J McDonald	1
	(5 b.nz.g Elusive City - Ellington by Express Duke)
4	Faaltless	S Baertschiger	D Beasley	2
2	Zac Spirit	C Brown	A Munro	3
3	Damo	P Shaw	N Juglall	4

	CHEYENNE DANCER 2009 STAKES
6	CLASS 5 - 1400M
3	AFTERNOON DELIGHT	S Gray	J McDonald	1
	(6 b.nz.m No Excuse Needed - Perennial Delight by Danasinga)
11	Single Star	M Yusof	T Rehaizat	2
10	Lady Power	H Takaoka	Zaki	3
8	Lucky General	Khoo	N Shahrul	4

	EL DORADO CLASSIC
7	OPEN (HCP) - 2200M
5	QUECHUA	P Shaw	CW Brown	1
	(4 b.arg.g Pure Prize - Queen Cabaret by Wild Event)
4	Cheetah On Fire	B Marsh	Z Zuriman	2
2	Emperor's Banquet	P Shaw	N Juglall	3
8	Valbuena	L Laxon	L Allpress	4

	CHEVRON 2008 STAKES
8	CLASS 3 - 1200M
3	DARCI CHARMER	M Clements	Soo	1
	(4 b.nz.g Darci Brahma - Star Charm by Cape Cross)
7	Bellwether	M Freedman	CW Brown	2
2	Room For Excuse	H Takaoka	A Munro	3
9	Warspirit	HW Tan	WS Chan	4

	RAFFLES CUP
9	SINGAPORE GROUP 1 (WFA) - 1800M
12	WAR AFFAIR	HW Tan	D Beasley	1
	(4 br.nz.g O'Reilly - Kristique by Kris S)
13	Goodman	L Laxon	CW Brown	2
4	Stepitup	L Laxon	J McDonald	3
10	Peaceful Warrior	D Kok	D Flores	4

	LIM'S OBJECTIVE 2007 STAKES
10	KRANJI STAKES D, DIV 1 - 1200M
1	HARDCORE ROCK	M Walker	L Allpress	1
	(4 b.a.g Fastnet Rock - River Dreaming by Galileo)
7	Top Gun	B Marsh	J McDonald	2
3	Invincible Gold	C Brown	CW Brown	3
12	Dynasty Knight	S Chua	M EWe	4

	LIM'S CLASSIC 2006 STAKES
11	CLASS 4 - 1200M
3	TOUCH ME NOT	M Clements	I Santana	1
	(3 b.nz.g Elusive City - Della Mimosa by Generous)
4	Media Captain	C Brown	CW Brown	2
6	Savage Storm	ZL Mok	Chavez	3
1	Beauty Supreme	C Brown	A Munro	4