The Group 1 winners were clearly the standout performers from All Aged Stakes Day at Randwick – one a proven sprinter who is now surely Everest bound in the spring, the other a two-year-old who could be anything.
Jimmysstar, ridden a little closer after getting away cleanly in the All Aged Stakes (1400m), showed the turn of acceleration that could win him an Everest later this year as he dashed 11.56 for his last 200m to put the race away.
Punter’s Intelligence sectional data showed his last 600m of 34 was the race’s second fastest, behind runner-up Joliestar (33.84).
As you’d expect, the All Aged was the fastest of the 1400m races on the day but they didn’t go significantly faster early. In fact they were some five lengths slower than the Benchmark 100 horses in the final event for the first 600m, but considerably quicker home.
TJ Smith winner Briasa did some early work before handing up the lead and both he and leader Belclare knocked up significantly in the last 200m, he’s dropped off to the tune of five lengths compared to the 400m-200m where he hit the front.
He can be forgiven and he’d be in the mix for an Everest slot.
The real eye-catcher came from a $151 shot first-up in Osipenko who ran the fastest 400m-200m of 10.91 and was just outside the winner’s last 600m with 34.01 in an excellent return.
Races like the Hawkesbury Cup would naturally be on his radar and he’ll improve further at 2000m as he did in the spring.
Nepotism left the youngsters with no excuses in the Champagne Stakes (1600m) as he came from last to arrive in time and snatch the Group 1.
No surprise his sectionals were far superior to his rivals, he clocked 34.97 for his last 600m which was over four lengths quicker than the next best Federalist (35.70) while his last 200m (12.13) was just under a length faster than Within The Law who was very game.
There’s no shortage of horses to follow out of the Benchmark 88 Catanach’s Jewellers over the 1200m led by Captain Amelia who despite running tenth clocked the fastest sectionals of the meeting.
She eased out the back to last from a wide gate and was getting warm at the finish as she charged home in 33.15 for her last 600m with her last 200m of 11.48 also a meeting best.
The mare found her best form again through the summer and generally at 1400m so she’s on target to win at this grade or be a chance in some of the mares stakes race around that trip coming up.
It’d be easy to miss the run of Excelladus first-up in the same race, he finished just ahead of Captain Amelia and had to be eased near the line, but he’s run 33.24 for his last 600m and was only 0.02 outside that meeting best final 200m.
He’s a superior wet tracker and if he strikes favourable ground this prep he’s definitely come back well. Sixth placed Moby Dick is also worth noting, he’s run 33.33 and was also warming up late.
Take nothing from the winner Need Some Luck who sat three wide on speed throughout while the runner-up City Of Lights showed she’s back in form with a 33.60 last 600m over a trip just short of her best.
More Territories might not be far off a stakes win after her second in the James HB Carr (1400m), charging from last with a 34.02 final 600m and a clearly superior final 200m of 11.57.
But there were a couple more out of that race who stood up to the test at Group 3 level, Churchill’s Choice had an interrupted run but managed 34.40 for her last 600m while Modella sat wide and stuck on running a 34.42 final 600m.
Tavi Time set up his preparation in defeat in the final race over 1400m, clocking a solid 35.28 for the last 600m and a race best last 200m of 12.46 in a race that was a slog to the line.
Also note the run of Welwal from last, he’s run the fastest last 600m of the trace in 34.98 as he gave away a big start to finish midfield.
And, out of the TAB Highway the run of A Pound Of Salt (34.93 race best last 600m) had plenty of merit while Fugitiva in the Midway suggested she could win one at that level with a 34.60 final 600m made better by the fast she was the fastest sectionally from the 1000m-200m.
Fastest last 600m: Captain Amelia 33.15
Watch Punter’s Intelligence at 7pm on Tuesdays on Sky Thoroughbred Central.