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He may not have won but Masked Crusader’s closing sectionals in the Group 1 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) say he’s very much TAB Everest material.

The four-year-old was locked in for the Everest a day prior to the All Aged, which probably raised expectation for the race, and he ran as well as he possibly could in defeat considering where he found himself in the run.

Punter’s Intelligence sectional data showed Masked Crusader ran a last 600m of 32.81, well over a length faster than anything else in the All Aged, and just a tick outside the fastest of the meeting.

He did run the meeting’s best 400m-200m of 10.50 but simply had too much to do considering they stopped the clock about half a second outside the course record and the quinella were right on the back of the speed.

At the 800m he was 24m off the lead and because he had to swing wide he covered an extra 11.6m in the run which was the most ground covered in the race.

He’s proven now on two occasions he’s a worthy Everest contender but his chances may well be dictated by the barrier draw come October 16.

Prague proved he’s one of the best three-year-old colts of his generation with a slashing fourth, finishing just ahead of Masked Crusader, he ran a 33 second final 600m (second best) after also settling a mile off the lead.

The race’s fastest last 200m went to Fifty Stars (11.26) who darted through from the back late.

While on the TAB Everest, the impressive Lost And Running stuck his hand up as a possible contender for one of the remaining 10 slots though the times suggest he has a little way to go just yet. Let’s not be too harsh, though, it was only his sixth start.

In winning the Fujitsu General Sprint (1200m) by four lengths pulling up he clocked 1:08.75 which was almost two lengths slower than the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes won by Splintex over the same trip.

Lost And Running had a picnic early as he put his first 600m behind him in 35.34, the Hall Mark’s first 600m was 35.15 while in the Highway over the 1200m they had the foot down running 34.59.

Clearly Lost And Running could have recorded a faster time, his last 200m of 11.35 was only 0.01 outside the race’s best and he was in cruise mode for the last half of that section. His last 600m (33.36) was the race’s third best.

He heads to the Listed Luskin Star (1300m) at his next start on May 15.

The placegetters behind Lost And Running aren’t far off a win. Runner-up Flat Heaven clocked 33.01 to be the race’s fastest as he charged home down the outside from last. His 400m-200m of 10.55 wasn’t far off Masked Crusader’s best of the day time.

More Prophets was first-up and made her run along the inside, perhaps the inferior ground by the last race, posting the fastest last 200m of 11.34 and second best last 600m of 33.07.

Kiku was set a tough task in a slowly run JHB Carr Stakes (1400m) but she still produced the race’s fastest last 600m of 33.33 and the second fastest 400m-200m of the meeting in 10.53. Coming back from a mile with that tempo was just beyond her but she’s a horse to follow next prep.

Laure Me In signalled he’s in for a fruitful preparation with a race best 33.88 for his last 600m in the Yarraman Park Handicap (1400m) as he ran into fourth place.

He actually clocked the race’s best splits in four of the last five 200m sections.

It’ll be interesting to see if Senor Toba can back up his upset win in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m) as everything about his win says it was well above average.

He clocked a faster overall time than the older horses in the JRA Plate and his last 600m of 33.85 was almost four lengths better than anything in his race. His last 200m of 11.46 was almost two lengths quicker so it was a dominant performance.

Fastest last 600m: Outback Barbie 32.79

Watch Punter’s Intelligence with Ben Way, Brad Davidson and Brad Gray at 7pm on Tuesday on Sky Thoroughbred Central.

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