Gutsy win by Spalato in Patrons' Bowl

SINGAPORE:  Jun 22, 2014
 
SPALATO (next to rails) holds off the challenge of STEPITUP
to win the Patrons' Bowl - SNTC photo

Jockey Manoel Nunes scored his biggest win yet at Kranji when he piloted SPALATO to victory in the S$500,000 Patron's Bowl (1600m) here today.

It was also the first Group 1 win for trainer John O'Hara and to top it all, the New Zealand gelding was bred by the wife of the owner Graham Mackie.

SPALATO was a later starter to racing having never raced at two and three years. In fact, it was only last month that he made his racing debut and what an impression he has made.

He won his maiden race on May 4 by nine and three-quarter lengths over 1000m on the polytrack, then coasted home by four and half lengths on the turf two weeks later.

SPALATO stepped up to the mile trip today by leading from start to finish but he has to fight tooth and nail with last season's champion three-year-old STEPITUP before winning by a short head.

"Before the race I thought 1600m was a worry for him but what a big heart he has, what a fighter he is. When STEPITUP came up to try and pass him down the straight, he just fought him off," said Nunes who booted home four winners today to lead the table with 65 winners, 31 winners ahead of Danny Beasley, Corey Brown, Alan Munro and John Powell who are all on 34 winners.

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

 

 SUPER EASY 2013 STAKES

1

 RESTRICTED MAIDEN, DIV 2 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

10

 STAR JET D Kok M Nunes

1
  (2 b.a.g Domesday - Fashion Star by Fast Girl)  

1

 Exciting Prospect S Burridge A Munro

2

9

 Happy Saga HW Tan WL Tan

3

6

 Exceptional Choice B Dean Aslam

4
 

 

 ATO 2012 STAKES

2

 INITIATION - 1400M

3

 HARDCORE ROCK M Walker M Nunes

1
  (3 b.a.g Fastnet Rock - River Dreaming by Galileo)  

12

 Intense Gold C Brown B Vorster

2

5

 Shabbat M Freedman A Munro

3

9

 City Of Kirkwall S Gray J Powell

4
 

 

 SPEED BABY 2O11 STAKES

3

 CLASS 5 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

3

 PLAY ON B Marsh D Flores

1
  (7 b.nz.g Culleb - Strike Harmony by Straight Strike)  

7

 Zac Warrior M Walker M Nunes

2

8

 Mr Bean M Walker K A'Isisuhairi

3

4

 The Giant L Laxon N Juglall

4
 

 

 INTERCEPT 2010 STAKES

4

 RESTRICTED MAIDEN, DIV 1 - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

7

 CONSTANCE'S SPIRIT M Walker L Allpress

1
  (3 gr/roan.am.g Zensational - Connie's Spirit by Theatrical)  

2

 Lucius Vorenus P Shaw B Vorster

2

5

 Delfyne O'Hara D Beasley

3

1

 Flying Neko B Dean K A'Isisuhairi

4
 

 

 JOLIE'S SHINJU 2009 STAKES

5

 GRADUATION - 1200M

2

 GOLDEN BRILLIANT O'Hara D Flores

1
  (3 ch.am.g Mr Greeley - Lipstick Sunset by Maria's Mon)  

3

 Ruapehu L Laxon CW Brown

2

5

 Balestra B Dean L Allpress

3

7

 Barnburgh Lad O'Hara D Chee

4
 

 

 PHENOM 2008 STAKES

6

 CLASS 4 - 1600M

9

 FAT KIDDY HK Tan Sam

1
  (4 b.a.g Trade Fair - Kintore's Luck by I'm In Luck)  

7

 Californian Jet C Brown A Munro

2

8

 Demon King M Freedman D Beasley

3

5

 Gold Line P Shaw N Juglall

4
 

 

 MY ROYAL CAPTAIN 2007 STAKES

7

 KRANJI STAKES C - 1400M

3

 THUMPING H Takaoka A Munro

1
  (5 b.nz.g One Cool Cat - Kindness by Star Way)  

2

 Cheetah On Fire B Marsh D Flores

2

8

 Om M Walker M Nunes

3

6

 Bogart M Freedman CW Brown

4
 

 

 TAURUS 2006 STAKES

8

 BENCHMARK 83 - 1800M

9

 ALFONSO L Laxon M Nunes

1
  (4 b.nz.g Danroad - Maeve by Honor Grades)  

8

 Iznate M Freedman D Beasley

2

7

 Flight Ofthe Saker C Brown K A'Isisuhairi

3

10

 Gold Hill C Brown B Vorster

4
 

 

 PATRONS' BOWL

9

 SINGAPORE GROUP 1 (4YO) - 1600M

6

 SPALATO O'Hara M Nunes

1
  (4 b.nz.g Elusive City - Ellington by Express Duke)  

1

 Stepitup S Yeoh D Flores

2

8

 Bendicion H Takaoka K A'Isisuhairi

3

2

 Johnny Guitar P Shaw B Vorster

4
 

 

 ROYAL CAPTAIN 2005 STAKES

10

 KRANJI STAKES C - 1200M (POLYTRACK)

7

 STRUBELI S Gray R Rueven

1
  (4 gr.nz.g Elusive City - Impulse by Flying Spur)  

1

 Astrostar S Yeoh T See

2

4

 My Shine D Koh Soo

3

5

 Board Walk P Shaw B Vorster

4
 

 

 DREYFUSS 2004 STAKES

11

 CLASS 4 - 1400M

7

 MY TRICIA C Brown L Allpress

1
  (4 b.nz.g One Cool Cat - Tricia Ann by Zabeel)  

4

 Mister Candy P Shaw D Flores

2

8

 Beat To Quarters D Hill I Santana

3

6

 Clermont Club M Walker K A'Isisuhairi

4