Skalato

Semipalatinsk - Alato
Foaled: 1997

Skalato burst onto the scene during the Spring with performances that marked him amongst the top of his age group. Unfortunately for this lightly framed colt, his achievements have been marred by the controversy of positive results to banned anti-inflammatory drugs. There were also tense moments leading right up to the starting time of the VRC Derby before the horse was finally allowed to take his place in the field.

Trained by the master Clarry Conners, Skalato created a great deal of interest when he comprehensively won the Caulfield Guineas at only his fourth start, and second up in his spring preparation. He defeated the Queenslander Show a Heart, with Spring Champion Stakes winner Universal Prince (a three quarter brother to 1994 VRC Derby winner Blevic) unplaced. Skalato then confirmed the form with a front running display to take the AAMI Vase on Cox Plate day, again accounting for Universal Prince who this time ran second. He then ran fourth in the VRC Derby after being fairly wide for much of the journey, beaten for the first time by Universal Prince, who ran second to Hit the Roof.

On Monday 20 November, following a 9 1/2 hour stewards inquiry, Skalato was officially disqualified from the Caulfield Guineas, because he had tested positive to Ketoprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory used to ease muscle soreness. As a result, his owners lost the first prizemoney of $487,500, Connors lost his trainers fee of $48,750 and Patrick Payne his riding bonus of $24,375. In addition, Connors was fined $12,000, and his son Heath $4,000. The runner up Show a Heart was elevated to first, Fubu to second, and Sale of Century to third. Unfortunately for me and all of us, there are no pics of Show a Heart, save a couple of parading ones.

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2000 Caulfield Guineas	2000 Caulfield Guineas
2000 Caulfield Guineas	2000 AAMI Vase
2000 AAMI Vase	2000 AAMI Vase