If he didn’t already in his debut win, youngster Gem Song stamped himself a horse with a big future with his impressive win at Rosehill on Saturday.
The colt was dropping from 1200m to 1100m and settled a long way back in the TAB Rewards Handicap but as Punters Intel illustrates he made a sustained 600m run to claim the prize.
Naturally, his was the fastest last 600m (34.37) of the race and the three 200m splits were amazingly consistent. From the 600m-400m it was 11.45, 400m-200m 11.41 and 200m-post 11.51.
The ability to reel off similar splits for a lengthy distance is the mark of a good horse and Gem Song is one we’ll certainly be hearing more about in the next 12 months.
The effort of fourth placed River Bird is well worth noting out of the race. Stakes placed back in February, she settled last and ran home in 34.71.
She just blew out in the last 200m running 12 seconds but the previous two splits of 11.37 and 11.34 were faster than the winner.
Easily the most ground covered by a winner was seen in Our Century’s gutsy performance in the Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m).
He tracked wide throughout and ran an extra 14.6m but still managed the second-fastest last 600m of 35.19 – a tick slower than Nettoyer’s 35.17 – and second fastest last 200m of 11.87.
The old marvel Destiny’s Kiss is responsible for the best final 200m of the race as he closed off in 11.82 and confirmed what we saw at Hawkesbury a week earlier that he’s come back in good order.
He just needs a track in the soft or early heavy range.
The daring ride by Deanne Panya on Goldfinch almost paid off as she opened up a 25.7m gap by the 550m of #theraces Handicap (1200m).
That gap was established as the filly ran 13.50 from a standing start then 10.61 and 10.91 but the effort told in the last 600m as she ran 1.5 seconds slower than any other runner in the second half.
Star Sensation blew the start and, the way the race was run, any chance but her times suggest she should be forgiven.
Her last 600m of 34.67 was the second fastest in the race, behind Regimen 34.63, so there’s still merit despite her fifth placing.
A couple from the Chris Waller stable that stood out are the import Solo Mission and talented grey Sir Bacchus.
Solo Mission did have the advantage of an inside run in the Schweppes Handicap (1500m) but he reeled off easily the fastest last 600m of the race in 34.78 and the best 200m in 11.76.
Considering he’ll be better over more ground it was a promising local debut.
Sir Bacchus did very little first-up but showed he could be on the way back running 34.60 for his last 600m in the Rygate Racecourse Design Handicap (1350m). Only he (11.95) and Serene Miss (11.99) broke 12 seconds for the last 200m.
Fastest last 600m: Epidemic 33.43
Most ground covered: Our Century +14.6m
Don’t miss Punters Intel with Brad Davidson and Brad Gray at 7pm on Tuesdays on Sky Thoroughbred Central.