Spalato – looks like a bomb
Superstar Spalato made his long awaited return to racing after an injury enforced layoff and some minor setbacks which hampered his prep this year, writes Gareth Pepper.
Unbeaten in six starts in Singapore the New Zealand bred son of Elusive City wen to Hong Kong at the end of last year to contest the Jockey Club Sprint and the Hong Kong International Sprint in December.
He unfortunately had many setbacks and failed to fire.
This was the first time I had seen the star galloper at the races, and he was breathtaking in the flesh.
He drifted before the off and took on our seasoned polytrack campaigners. Despite giving away 5,5kgs to his nearest carded runner, he won like he had no weight on his back, by 5,5 lengths.
He recorded the second fastest time in the Woodlands Handicap, with only Rocket Man’s winning time in 2010 faster. Jockey Nunes reported he felt like he was perhaps at 80% of his peak and if that is the case, we are in for a treat when he makes his next start.
He is headed to the Kranji Mile on 4 October and, all going well, I’m expecting big things from him. It looks like the dream clash of Spalato and War Affair could take place and it is a race that has the makings of a very special event!
Trials
After being here for a while now, I have become used to the whole Trial System.
Official Race Trials (ORT) are held on Tuesday and Thursday morningas.
All horses new to Singapore have to take part in an ORT. The trial fields are out on Monday and Wednesday evenings and they are all recorded for the public and are generally up on the turfclub website within 10-15 minutes of their completion in the interest of transparency for the public.
Pre-ORT’s are held on Wednesday mornings as well as schooling sessions and newcomers have to attend and pass one of these before accepting for the ORT’S.
All info provided is invaluable and I have found analysing my form for raceday presentation so much easier with the assistance of this information. We also record Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Track work for our work out show called Winning Workouts (more about that next week)
I really don’t know how I analysed form before this and it would be amazing if held back home, but the logistics I reckon would be a nightmare.
Let’s hope that one day in the future some sort of arrangement can be made.
The Start
The Turf Club here has an amazing team of starters and barrier attendants headed by head starter Damien Kinninmont.
A Perth native Damien brings experience in the form of being a jockey for several years and also being Head Starter in Geraldton from 2000, before joining in 2008.
He is also the Riding Master to the apprentices. A likeable guy that is down to earth and always has time to discuss horses and his thought process behind certain decisions.
John Pepe
He is assisted by John Pepe. John brings many years of experience having spent five summers in the UK, and also playing the role of Assistant Starter in Perth as well as in Hong Kong.
He also recently travelled to Saratoga to gain experience.
This Dynamic duo really are professional and with their pack of barrier attendants command a raceday team that would hold its own anywhere in the world.
Damien comments on John: “He is a fantastic horseman who is patient and kind on the horses and is my right hand man. He brings a wealth of knowledge. He is at most mornings track work to lend a hand and assists trainers with problem horses and is an asset to me and my team.”
Damien also commended the Barrier Attendants, who he says are calm and collected on raceday and he feels the calm and relaxed atmosphere is very beneficial to the horses at it sets the tone for a great working environment.
Till next time.
