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While Wodeton still hovers ominously over next month’s TAB Golden Slipper, Saturday’s Inglis Millennium surely produced at least a couple of youngsters worthy of a dip at the $5 million two-year-old feature.

They are of course the unbeaten Rivellino and the previously unbeaten Within The Law, who ran one-two in the 1100m dash and overcame wide barriers in the process.

Punter’s Intelligence sectional data revealed Within The Law ran the fastest last 600m of the Millennium, the only horse to break 34 seconds, with a 33.98.

On face value she had the chance to run Rivellino down, given she eventually found his back, and the winner did outsprint her at a vital stage but she was breathing down his neck at the finish.

Her last 200m of 11.60 was just a tick outside the race’s best and a length faster than Rivellino.

That’s taking nothing away from the colt. He had to make a couple of little runs in the race, particularly in the early stages as James McDonald maneuvered him into a trailing position (10.44 from the 800m-600m) and the winning move from the 400m-200m (11.05).

Eligible prizemoney is going to be an issue for Within The Law if the Bjorn Baker stable wants to give her the chance to head to the Slipper, she’s won $973,000 but all of it in sales restricted races so is empty handed as far as the Group 1 is concerned.

But there are ample exempt races coming up for her.

Rivellino is in a better position though only around $80,000 of the $1.15m he won is eligible as far as the Slipper order of entry goes.

Away from the first two the eye-catcher late was fourth placed Grafterburners, who looked to be going nowhere early in the straight then launched with the fastest last 200m of 11.58 and second fastest last 600m of 34.08.

There was a good deal of dominance in the win of Public Attention in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) and to be fair to his rivals it’s hard to make a case for any of them to turn the tables next time out.

It wasn’t a particularly fast run Eskimo Prince, the three-year-olds ran 1:09.60 which was just 0.09 faster than the TAB Highway. But the most significant sectional is the grey’s final 200m.

He sat up on the speed set by Linebacker, a somewhat surprise leader at the 1200m, and was clearly the strongest late as that final sectional of 11.87 illustrates.

That was well over a length faster than third placed Gatsby’s (12.07) who ran the fastest last 600m of 34.31, and getting close to two lengths faster than Linebacker (12.15).

All three placegetters were first-up and perhaps Linebacker may have a little more improvement going to the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) but the winner should also have upside.

The Evergreen Turf Country Championships begins this weekend and two horses from the mares Benchmark 78 over 1300m put their hand up for the South East regional race on February 23.

Kimberley Secrets, who won that race in 2023, did an enormous job to run third as she had to work hard early (first 900m of 53.29 was the race’s fastest) and still toughed it out to hold a place.

Sixth placed Tavolo had no luck at all in the run, going to the line hard held, and still ran the fourth fastest last 600m of 34.67.

Finally, the in-form Point And Shoot was at it again rounding up his opposition from last and ticking the mile box as impressively as you can.

He clocked 33.71 for his last 600m, nearly five lengths fastest than the next best, and was able to sustain a run with the fastest last 200m of 11.54. It’s time for him to be tested in something better.

Fastest last 600m: Shezanalister 32.63.

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