It’ll be some time before Articus goes around at 100/1 again after his slashing return at Randwick on Saturday.
Sure he may have been in the right part of the track, coming down the outside fence, but the Punters Intel data suggests he could be in for a very good preparation.
Articus ran the fastest last 600m of the 1400m benchmark race in 35.37, solid on a day where only one horse managed to break 35 seconds.
He wound up strongly running 11.74 from the 600m-400m and 11.47 (400m-200m) and came home in 12.16 which isn’t bad considering he was first-up since May. He also covered an extra 14.2m.
A second-up win in the right race is certainly a possibility.
Exciting three-year-old Diplomatico didn’t appear to relish the soft, bordering on heavy, track but he showed some class in winning the Brian Crowley.
The colt ran the second fastest last 600m of 36.04 (runner-up Legend Of Condor clocked 35.95) but his last 200m of 12.49 was his best work and he covered an extra 6.7m, more than any other runner.
The TAB Highway produced the day’s best last 600m split from outsider Our Rosemaree, she ran fifth in the 1100m sprint with a 34.95.
It was some effort too, she conceded 24m at the 600m as she trailed the field but her last 400m of 23.60 was by far and away the best of the race and saw her close strongly.
The big question is whether the five-year-old mare can back it up. It was her third Highway attempt this preparation, all in Class 3, and she is eligible for a class drop.
Be a little forgiving of the beaten favourite Burning Crown whose slow beginning proved costly and left him stranded on the slower part of the track.
His last 200m was 12.46, the third quickest, and he also didn’t appear too happy in the ground.
There’s a win around the corner for Firsthand after his eye-catching fifth behind Noble Joey after making a real mess of the start.
His first 200m of 14.52 was clearly the slowest of the race but at the other end he produced the best last 400m of 24.10 to be beaten less than a length.
He is a dual soft track winner but is clearly a better horse on top of the ground and with two excellent efforts since a break under his belt if he strikes a better track he’s ready to break through.
The Group 3 Nivison over the 1200m produced a few runs of note behind the winner Resin.
Runner-up Almanzora clocked the fastest last 600m of 35.01 and last 200m of 12.24, alongside her was Eckstein, who is getting ready for a mile race, and she ran the second best last 600m of 35.17 and 200m of 12.27.
Sixth placed Dyslexic is worth another look – while she ran an even 35.76 last 600m and 12.68 final 200m she was first-up and closer to the inside section of the track. She’s better on top of the ground and has scope for improvement.
Two-year-old Bivouac made a promising debut and it’s worth noting he made his run hard up against the inside rail where few horses went all day.
The Godolphin colt ran the second fastest last 600m of the Kirkham Plate in 35.41 behind fourth placed Sedona (35.34).
Fastest last 600m: Our Rosemaree 34.95
Most ground covered (to win): Mahalangur +10.6m
Don’t miss Punters Intel with Gerard Middleton, Brad Davidson and Brad Gray on Sky Thoroughbred Central at 7pm on Tuesday.