Singapore's latest boom horse, Spalato, brings trainer John O'Hara back to one of the stomping grounds of his late cousin and former boss, Ivan Allan, on Sunday and connections know their unbeaten sprinter's trip to Sha Tin represents his sternest test yet.
O'Hara admits he was "dragged into racing" as a youngster by Allan, a racing legend in his homeland and a ground-breaking identity in Hong Kong who died in 2009. Allan won three trainers' titles here, more than 500 races, including 36 Group races, and prepared the mighty Fairy King Prawn among other big-race winners.
After travelling to Sha Tin as assistant trainer with Allan's 1989 Hong Kong Invitation Cup winner Colonial Chief, O'Hara stepped out on his own when his mentor moved from Singapore in 1992.
"It's great to come back here on my own, even if this is a very hard-looking race," O'Hara said on Wednesday.
The trainer was making a flying visit to watch Spalato cruise through a relaxed early morning workout and was happy to be in the familiar surrounds of Sha Tin with a horse he has no hesitation in nominating as the best he has prepared. O'Hara, 51, does not mince words when making an estimation of what appears to be Spalato's yet untapped ability, comparing him with Singapore's best ever sprinter Rocket Man - but "with a little more scope".
"He is just an all-round good horse. His temperament means he is great in the barn. He is very laid back, but he is great on the track, too. He just does what you want him to," O'Hara said.
Rocket Man dead-heated with One World in the 2010 Jockey Club Sprint before being beaten a nose by J J The Jet Plane in the Hong Kong Sprint three weeks later.
Spalato has won six from six, stretching to 2,000m to easily win the Singapore Derby at the end of a stellar four-year-old campaign and returning at five to dominate all-age company with two explosive displays over 1,200m.
Manoel Nunes was slated to ride Spalato on Sunday, Singapore's leading jockey even missing key engagements to rest a wrist injury, but the Brazilian withdrew on Wednesday and Kiwi ace James McDonald will retain the ride after he partnered the horse to a four-length romp just over three weeks ago.
"I think he is pretty special," McDonald said. "I couldn't believe how much he won by and how easy he did it, and I don't know how he won a Derby to be honest because he is such a good sprinter. He is very fast, compact and with a turn of foot.
"He is very adaptable and can reel off great sectionals, but now he needs to take another step up," McDonald said.
"He is lightly raced and lacks the race experience of the horses he will be facing on Sunday. In saying that, he is really relaxed and even though I led on him last start, you can take a sit on him anywhere."
Spalato is raced by New Zealand-based owner-breeders Graham Mackie and his wife, Trish Dunell, and if Spalato steps up to the mark on Sunday, connections are not only eyeing next month's international meeting, but Dubai's World Cup night in March with the son of Elusive City.
