Singapore based trainer Patrick Shaw has claimed his second Group 1 S$1 million KrisFlyer International Sprint in as many years after Ato took out the race at Kranji on Sunday night.
Photo by Singapore Turf Club
The stable was forced to scratch last years winner and short priced favourite Rocket Man earlier in the week with a ligament injury, but stablemate Ato was good enough to get the job done in his absence.
The field of nine was forced to stay in barriers for longer than intended after Yin Xin broke through prior to the start, and when the field was finally release he was quickly away and took up the early lead.
Mr Big was rarely far away settling behind the leader on the rails with Better Be The One pushing forward quickly out three wide.
Ato, who was ridden by Barend Vorster received a very good run throughout the race settling fourth before making his way up to third on the turn, with short priced favourite Krypton Factor never in the race back in the field.
Mr Big and Ato both streaked clear of the field and fought it out down the straight with Ato prevailing over the brave Mr Big in second with UK galloper Secret Asset back in third.
The four-year old came into the race on the back of a last start fourth behind Rocket Man in the Group 1 Lion City Cup, beaten 5L by the local champion.
Singapore based trainer Patrick Shaw said the horse was spot on leading into the race and he was always confident he would do well.
“He was a very good second choice to have in the race. It was a pity about Rocky but it goes like that and he is safe in the box,” said Shaw.
“Obviously now he is going to be a stallion. We will take him home as a stallion for sure. Otherwise I would be cutting him. I would have liked to have done it but now definitely not.
“It is bittersweet with Rocky not here, I would have loved him to be here more than anything, but I had a good second choice and I was a bit confident,” he said.
Shaw took the blinkers off for this race after the horse had travelled keenly in his last few runs and Shaw said the race planned out perfectly for Ato.
South African jockey Barend Vorster was overjoyed after the race and commented on how good Singapore has been to him.
“There is no description to display how I feel,” said Voster.
“Singapore has been great to me and it is great to get one of the big races on a night like this.
“I just thought he was really, really well in himself and last week he had a nice sharp gallop. You know he is a horse that thinks a lot and tonight he was thinking about the right thing. He never looked at anything sideways.
“I pulled him away from Mr Big and went away from the inside to the middle and he just kept extending and I was just hoping that nothing was coming at me. He was just finding the line so well.
“Like Patrick said to me do not get stuck on the fence so I had to make a decision to get out and I saw that Danny was not travelling wide so I still had plenty of horse under me so I decided to stay towards him and them make a move out and it worked out the right way.
“On a night like this my thoughts are with Rocket Man back in his box, but to win a race like this it is really one of the big things.
Ato has now had 20 career starts for 7 wins, taking his prizemoney to over S$1 million.
