Singapore racegoers witnessed one of the biggest upsets in recent memory with superstar galloper Spalato safely held in the Group 1 Kranji Mile.
Sent out the raging $1.40 favourite the son of Elusive City was expected to win the feature event in a cakewalk, however it was the Laurie Laxon trained Stepitup who clearly shone.
Although possessing a distinct class edge, favourite backers looked to have been dealt their fate early with Spalato unable to find the front.After leading easily over 1200m and 1400m prior, alarm bells were ringing when the six-year-old settled fourth.
The lead sections in Sunday's Kranji Mile were 24.67 seconds for the first 400m, close to two lengths slower than what Spalato produced last start.While appearing to travel well, when asked for his full effort Spalato failed to display his trademark acceleration when only hitting the front briefly, before fading out of contention.
In one of the worst performances of his career, Spalato tasted his first defeat domestically and now creates plenty of intrigue moving forward towards the Group 1 Raffles Cup [1800m].By all reports Spalato has pulled up well from Sunday's performance and trainer John O'Hara had no excuses, except that he cast his off-fore plate.
“I can’t put that run down to just losing the shoe, but it definitely would have affected his performance,” O'Hara said.“It was a tremendous change in form, but maybe it was just one of those odd days when horses run below-par. It also tells us now he is not unbeatable, champions can be beaten.”
At his best Spalato remains the horse to beat in the Raffle's Cup, though which Spalato turns up is a question punters will be left trying to answer.
On the other hand, the ever consistent Stepitup broke for a deserved Group 1 success, his first since clinching the Group 1 Singapore Guineas in 2013.
Now under the care of Laurie Laxon, the son of Hussonet has continued to raise the bar and returned a new career peak over the weekend.Notably since joining Laxon's team, Stepitup has won five of his 12 attempts, four of which were in Group company.
Rated 114 by Timeform, Stepitup was simply dominant, made more impressive by the fact he settled at the rear in the moderately run affair.With all eyes on Spalato in the straight, Stepitup snuck up along the inside and displayed a sharp turn of foot to hit the front passing the 200m.
Drawing well clear over the concluding stages, Stepitup won as easily as many felt Spalato would, posting a four length success.A winner of 14 of his 32 starts, Sunday's success was his equal second biggest winning margin, having won 11 by less than a length.
A key model of consistency, Stepitup will now progress on to the Raffle's Cup and while he lacks the class of both Spalato and Quechua, a repeat of Sunday's performance should see him right in the finish.
The Cliff Brown trained Poseidon has been unable to win at his last two starts, however he is clearly racing in great order and is one to stick with.
A dominant winner first up, the son of Gold Centre has since finished second at his past two starts, with his latest performance on Sunday seeing him again game in defeat.Lining up in the fifth event, Poseidon was clearly unsuited by the moderate early tempo and really impressed when storming home late to only be narrowly defeated.
Marked just below his peak, Poseidon was a key sectional star and another win doesn't appear far away.
On Friday night the third event saw a few handy types step out, led by the progressive Nova Strike.
Only half a length separated the first three across the line, with a further six-and-a-half lengths back to fifth.Nova Strike, Devil's Pass and Fine Choice are all gallopers to follow as they all appear to be heading in the right direction.
On raw times, Nova Strike was marked just a length slower than talented sprinter Raise No Doubt — a strong push for the form moving forward.If placed in suitable company at their next outings, all three gallopers are expected to be very hard to beat.
