Ato comes of age

3 minute read

Giving trainer Patrick Shaw his 501st Singapore winner, Ato gained his first group win in the Woodlands Stakes at Kranji Sunday.

Race 5 onwards were delayed by a severe thunderstorm and this caused Shaw to be a bit concerned

about the 1 draw of Ato before the race, and the youngster did have to show toughness and maturity to

fight off the challenge of Captain Obvious and then the swoopers Mr Timely and Merchant, with those two

in second and third. Mr Timely certainly made up for his unlucky run at his previous start and came with

a withering run but Ato was not to be denied. Captain Obvious showed class and possibly got a squeeze

near the finish but the weight was against him. Amadeus Mozart ran a huge race to finish fourth. Rapido

Star was disappointing.

On Friday U Got It scored an upset win over Parfumier in the Open, giving trainer Leslie Khoo a treble. There was not much pace in the race, with Collect the Cash making a dash for it but unable to got past the first two.