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Which race will Firestorm win through the remainder of the Sydney Autumn Carnival?

That’s the burning question following her closing second to star filly Lady Shenandoah in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) from Rosehill on Saturday.

You’d imagine Chris Waller has a Group 1 in mind, given she’s nominated for the Doncaster Mile (with just 50kg) and Queen Of The Turf during the Star Championships.

Punter’s Intelligence revealed Firestorm, unsurprisingly, clocked the fastest last 600m of the Group 1 running 32.84 from basically last on the home turn as she got very close to Lady Shenandoah on the line.

The winner sprinted in 33.23 herself, so was always going to be hard to run down, and Firestorm was the only horse to break 11 seconds for the last 200m (10.92) as she took two lengths off the filly in the closing section of the race.

The four-year-old does have a negative racing pattern but she is flying this preparation and no doubt has a big race win in her.

Respect has to go to Lady Of Camelot who sat wide throughout the trip and still put herself in the finish, going down fighting in third after covering 1512.2m in the 1500m race.

The Coolmore was run considerably faster than the Phar Lap Stakes over the same distance which was won in a sit and sprint by Lazzura.

It’s staggering to look at the first 900m of both races – 58.05 in the Phar Lap and 53.80 in the Coolmore. Something like 25 lengths different.

At the end of both races the Coolmore wound up some 19 lengths faster.

So it’s no surprise the three-year-olds clocked some very fast closing sectionals with Lazzura running 32.52 for her last 600m.

That means we have to be very forgiving of beaten favourite Declichy Boulevard who had way too much work to do and that was evident in her last 200m dropping off slightly after she’s run the fastest 1000m-800m, 600m-400m and 400m-200m.

She’s run 32.24 and still only run third.

Equally, the first-up run of the staying type Movin Out has to be given a big pass mark as she ran 32.31 into fourth.

Can Skyhook measure up to the $5 million Golden Slipper this weekend after his dominant performance in the Pago Pago Stakes?

He did the early work to establish the lead and was able to increase the tempo after getting a small breather and if you’re leading and running the second fastest last 200m of the race (11.27) you’re unlikely to be caught.

His last 600m of 33.58 was fourth fastest of the race.

State Visit announced himself as a player when we get to races like the Sires’ and Champagne as he charged into third running a race best 33.07 final 600m. Fourth placed United States ran a 33.20 final 600m and 11.12 final 200m to also put himself into the talk for longer races.

Vauban deserves a mention for his outstanding first-up win in the Sky High Stakes (2000m) where he was able to unleash a sprint of 33.30 for his last 600m, and 11.20 for his last 200m, and get up on the line.

Favourite Lindermann appeared to have his chance in front, and Vauban and Arapaho only reeled him in at the 50m.

Fastest last 600m: Declichy Boulevard 32.24

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