First Foals For Summerhill’s Singapore Star Ato

Ato, an R850 000 National Yearling Sales graduate in 2009 consigned by Maine Chance Farms, went on to be a dual Gr1 winner in Singapore, including defeating Dubai Golden Shaheen Gr1 winner, Krypton Factor, by six lengths in the Krisflyer International Sprint over 1200m.

He also won the Gr1 Patrons Bowl over 1600m from Gingerbread Man and took home two Gr3’s from a career that saw him win nine times in total, with 15 places and a stakes of S$1,643 595 – the equivalent of over R16 million.

The Royal Academy sireline has produced the likes of Black Caviar through Bel Esprit, and Ato’s South African trainer Pat Shaw once expressed his regret at not taking Ato to compete with his paternal unbeaten cousin at Ascot.

Royal Academy, a World Champion racehorse who died last year, is the sire of 170 Stakes winners, including 27 at Group One level. Locally he produced Vodacom Durban July winner Eyeofthetiger.

Ato is a half-brother to Another Giant (Giant’s Causeway) who placed in the Gr3 Chairman’s Cup.

Ato stands for a fee of R15 000 this season at Summerhill Stud.