Gutsy win by Ato in Woodlands Handicap

SINGAPORE:  Aug 14, 2011
 
ATO holds off MR TIMELY and MERCHANT (centre) to win the
Woodlands Handicap - SNTC photo

Fast-improving ATO scored a gutsy win in the S$200,000 Woodlands Handicap over 1200m on the polytrack at Kranji here today to gain his first group after two close calls earlier in the season.

Ridden by Barend Vorster, the four-year-old entire was always handy in the early running and kicked in front at the top of the straight.

Former 10-time Malaysian runner CAPTAIN OBVIOUS, making his Singapore debut after a six-month break, matched him stride-for-stride for about 200m before faded under a punishing 59-kg.

ATO (Royal Academy - Another Legend by Lyphard's Wish) then held off the late run of MR TIMELY to win by a nose with MERCHANT another short head away third.

CAPTAIN OBVIOUS lost no marks when he faded to finish sixth, about three lengths from the winner. The first five finishers were all alloted 50kg in this Singapore Group 3 handicap event.

Earlier in the season, ATO finished fourth in the Group 2 Singapore 3YO Classic and was third in the Group 1 Singapore Guineas. Today's win was his sixth in nine starts.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 MAIDEN - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

8

 Cigar Supreme Khoo Anandan

1

11

 Dolce Vita H W Tan J Moreira

2

4

 Santa Anita S Chua T H Koh

3

10

 Newa Wagamama H Takaoka A Munro

4

2

 RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1100M (POLYTRACK)

9

 Valevole P Shaw B Vorster

1

10

 Varagian P Shaw O Placais

2

6

 Magical Sunset B Dean D Beasley

3

3

 Cool Luke L Laxon T H Koh

4

3

 CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

7

 El Milagro Baertschiger J Powell

1

3

 Risky Venture S Burridge D Beasley

2

5

 Good Towkay Khoo J Moreira

3

2

 Constant Companion O'Hara Saifudin

4

4

 CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

8

 Dennycrane M Freedman J Moreira

1

10

 Excellent Beauty S Chua Saifudin

2

2

 Queen Kell D Kok Chavez

3

1

 Lightning Ace D Koh Y F Leong

4

5

 BENCHMARK 61 - 1900M (POLYTRACK)

6

 Magic Icon C Brown A Munro

1

1

 Saddlers Creek B Marsh C S Chin

2

11

 Flying Clipper Z L Mok Saifudin

3

10

 Trigger Insight S Gray R Stewart

4

6

 CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

9

 Ninth Avenue S Chua S John

1

1

 Kukai H Takaoka O Placais

2

6

 Boyle L Laxon J Moreira

3

4

 Max Resource D Dragon Sivan

4

7

 GRADUATION - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

7

 Dark Matter S Burrudge J Moreira

1

1

 Nandowra M Freedman D Beasley

2

2

 Bombaata Z L Mok A Feiruz

3

8

 Tzar P Shaw B Vorster

4

8

 CLASS 5 - 1800M (POLYTRACK)

9

 Sweet Dream B Marsh B Vorster

1

4

 Chevy H Takaoka Chavez

2

1

 The Kathumpa S Burridge Aslam

3

2

 Double Dose B Dean J Moreira

4

9

 CLASS 5, DIV 3 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

2

 Recycle Triumph H K Tan T H Koh

1

8

 Mr Vantastic D Hill Sam

2

7

 Gold Pool K C Yeoh Suhaimi

3

4

 My Way B Marsh T Rehaizat

4

10

 WOODLANDS HANDICAP (SG3) - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

8

 Ato P Shaw B Vorster

1

6

 Mr Timely M Freedman R Stewart

2

4

 Merchant C Brown S John

3

9

 Amadeus Mozart P Shaw O Placais

4

11

 CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

1

 Brudder M Clements A Munro

1

2

 Matterhorn D Koh R Stewart

2

5

 Thrilla In Manila C Brown D Beasley

3

6

 Drunken Hero Khoo Zaki

4