El Padrino wins Merlion Trophy

SINGAPORE:  Mar 15, 2014
 
EL PADRINO coasting home to a runaway win in the Merlion
Trophy - SNTC photo
 

EL PADRINO, who started his career so promisingly but never quite reached any great heights, may have finally realised his potential when he scored a runaway win in the S$200,000 Merlion Trophy (1200m) at Kranji here tonight.

Partnered by David Flores, the New Zealand gelding was last of ten runners early, still second last at the home turn but unleashed a terrific turn of foot in the run home to win drawing away by five lengths.

It was a performance out of the ordinary. Never before has a horse annihilated a sprint field in a such a manner in a Group 3 event.

It was the first group win by Flores in Singapore. "I’m just so excited and couldn’t wait to get my hands on that trophy," he said at the prize presentation.

EL PADRINO began his career with two wins and two placings from four starts in 2011, which prompted his then trainer Steven Burridge to send him to Dubai where he won once over 1400m in three starts in early 2012.

On his return, EL PADRINO ran a first-up second before reeling off two wins but picked up just one more win last year.

After more six months on the sidelines, EL PADRINO started the 2014 season with two placings from two before notching his biggest win yet tonight.

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

 

 SPEEDY CAT 2013 STAKES

1

 CLASS 5, DIV 1 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)

6

 HAPPY FOREVER HW Tan Saifudin

1
  (4 b.a.g Flying Pegasus (AUS) - Thistledown by Canny Lad)  

7

 SACRED M Yusof Soo

1
  (4 b.a.g Flying Pegasus (AUS) - Thistledown by Canny Lad)  

3

 Arapuni L Laxon R Rueven

3

9

 Magnificent Kid D Koh TH Koh

4
  *Dead-heat for 1st      
 

 

 BETTER THAN EVER 2012 STAKES

2

 INITIATION - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

9

 HAPPY PRINCESS L Laxon CW Brown

1
  (3 ch.a.f Gonski - Burned by Red Ransom)  

1

 Takeover S Burridge M Nunes

2

5

 Gold Line P Shaw B Vorster

3

8

 My Barbarella S Baertschiger D Beasley

4
 

 

 TUXEDO MOON 2011 STAKES

3

 CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

4

 PERFECT CHALLENGER HW Tan Chavez

1
  (3 br.nz.g Mr Nancho - Tudor Princess by Danske)  

5

 Mangatangi L Laxon R Rueven

2

2

 Benji's Rule S Gray S Noh

3

10

 Jet Man S Chua M Nunes

4
 

 

 MEXICAN ROSE 2010 STAKES

4

 MAIDEN - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

9

 MONEY KING T Kieser CW Brown

1
  (3 ch.am.g Flower Alley - Sister Marilyn by Saint Ballado)  

10

 Invictus S Burridge K A'Isisuhairi

2

2

 Amazealot S Yeoh I Santana

3

1

 Stormy Along O'Hara D Flores

4
 

 

 BEAU BRUMMELL 2009 STAKES

5

 KRANJI STAKES C - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

2

 ASTROSTAR S Yeoh I Santana

1
  (3 b/br.a.g Testa Rossa - Gathering Storm by Joshua Dancer)  

1

 Let's See Action P Shaw B Vorster

2

7

 Beauty Supreme C Brown A Munro

3

6

 Seligi S Baertschiger J Powell

4
 

 

 WHY BE 2008 STAKES

6

 CLASS 5, DIV 2 - 1100M (POLYTRACK)

12

 ZAC DESTROYER M Walker K A'Isisuhairi

1
  (7 br.a.g Cape Cross - Noble Air by Lycius)  

6

 Powerpac ZL Mok Saifudin

2

1

 Fantastic Boy S Yeoh Zaki

3

7

 Hellolo M Walker M Nunes

4
 

 

 MERLION TROPHY

7

 SINGAPORE GROUP 3 (WFA) - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

6

 EL PADRINO HW Tan D Flores

1
  (5 b.nz.g Mr Nancho - Crownie by Luskin Star)  

3

 Goal Keeper T Kieser D Beasley

2

1

 Captain Obvious S Burridge Chavez

3

2

 Mr Big M Freedman N Berry

4
 

 

 WHY BE 2007 STAKES

8

 CLASS 5 - 1800M (POLYTRACK)

2

 GALLANT HEIGHTS HK Tan S Noh

1
  (5 blk.nz.g Gallant Guru - Hollywood Heights by Felix The Cat)  

5

 North Star H Takaoka A Munro

2

1

 Royal Brat D Hill Z Zuriman

3

9

 Big Harvest D Koh J See

4
 

 

 WHY BE 2006 STAKES

9

 CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

1

 TIGER BEE HW Tan D Beasley

1
  (3 ch.nz.g Danroad - So Take That by Align)  

5

 Pure Tactics S Burridge Chavez

2

10

 Simpang HW Tan HK Cheng

3

8

 Flying Wild B Dean M Nunes

4