The Spalato effect does not seem to be fading away anytime soon with another of Graham Mackie’s wards, Orchard Road, saluting at Kranji on Friday.
Barely a week after claiming his biggest success with the undefeated Spalato blitzing his rivals in the $1.15 million Group 1 Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) last Sunday, Mackie was right back in the winner’s circle on Friday night, albeit in much humbler company when Orchard Road turned the $65,000 Initiation race over 1100m on Polytrack into a one-act affair.
With no world-beaters in the string of horses Mackie has raced in the last five or six years at Kranji - with the exception maybe of Apache Junction - patience has finally paid off for the New Zealander.
Besides Spalato, the likes of Bigdinero, Zedkaar and promising up-and-comers like Kazuo, Azure, Kevin Eleven and now Orchard Road have definitely seen Mackie and his wife Trish Dunell enjoy a much-deserved bumper year with by far, his first real vintage crop coming through in the last 12 months.
Ridden by Brazilian jockey Ivaldo Santana, the Danroad mare capitalised on her early speed and barrier one to show the way, but soon had company in $11 favourite Thankfulness (Danny Beasley), who was soon joined by the other well-tried debutant Savarnabhumi (Manoel Nunes, $15).
With two leading fancies testing her mettle, Orchard Road ($36), who had just two starts for one third under her belt, could have crumbled upon straightening, but she was the one who gave them the slip with consummate ease.
Suvarnabhumi was the first to knock up from a long way out, while Thankfulness’s challenge proved to be pretty toothless when he also dropped off by the 300m mark. Orchard Road was well clear by the furlong mark as she opened up a three-length break from Power Lin (Shafiq Rizuan), though Leslie Khoo’s newcomer Easy Easy (Lisa Allpress) did run on gamely from the rear, but the winner was home and hosed as Orchard Road scored by two lengths.
Easy Easy beat Power Lin for second by a neck, but all honours to Mackie’s mare who recorded 1min 6.49secs for the 1100m trip on Polytrack.
While Spalato, clearly his banner horse, is prepared by trainer John O’Hara, Orchard Road, his 17th winner for the season, is handled by trainer Michael Clements, who between O’Hara, Bruce Marsh, Brian Dean and himself share the training load of Mackie’s horses. From Day 1, the New Zealander has always spreaded his horses among a variety of trainers, notably Dr Yeoh Kheng Chye, Cliff Brown and Steven Burridge in the not too distant past.
Clements, who with O’Hara, are at the receiving end of the bulk of Mackie’s horses, is certainly pleased with his latest successful charge.
“She was pretty lucky with the barrier tonight and as she’s always been a speedy sort, I told the rider to use her speed and her good barrier to lead if she is comfortable with it,” said the Zimbabwean-born trainer.
“She was able to hold her speed and she won a very nice race in the end. Like all Danroads, she has taken a few races to hit her best form.
“We actually gave her a freshen-up and she has come back in good shape.”
Santana said Orchard Road was a little stirred up “like all fillies” but gave her no causes for concern during the race.
“She was a bit of a handful before she got loaded, but she was all right during the race,” he said.
“She jumped very well and set a nice pace in front. We had some company but she just kept to her own speed and showed plenty of power in the end.
“We were just lucky to get a nice run in front and the filly did a good job to go all the way.”
