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Fast times were the order of the day at Kembla Grange but you have to wonder what lies ahead for King Of Sparta after a supreme performance as he smashed the 1200m course record.

Everything about the win in the Precise Fire Handicap suggested a peak effort but could it mean he’s now starting to realise the potential he showed as a two-year-old. Or somewhere in between.

Punter’s Intelligence sectional data showed King Of Sparta recorded the fastest last 600m of the meeting as he ran 32.66 at the end of a 1:08.18. That was over five lengths faster than the next best in the race.

He let down strongly from the 400m-200m running 10.53 (almost two lengths faster) and a last 200m of 11.05 (almost three lengths faster and he was pulling up).

That was a Benchmark 72, he wasn’t far behind some of the better youngsters last season when he was a colt so he may be able to be competitive back into Group company now.

There has to be some respect given to the runner-up Selburose who set up the track record time in front, she ran the first 600m in 34.64 which was 0.75 seconds faster than Big Parade a couple of races earlier over the same distance.

Obviously Big Parade’s win was in stronger company in the Ranvet Handicap (1200m) and he carried 61kg first-up from a spell and, prior to King Of Sparta’s win, he recorded a track record in his own right.

He seemed to get a small breather in the middle stages after some early pressure from Mamaragan, who matched the first 200m of 13.21 before weakening.

Big Parade stepped it up from the turn, he ran 11.40 from the 600m-400m but significantly faster 10.74 from the 400m-200m and he managed the fastest last 200m of the race of 10.90 for a last 600m of 33.04.

When a front-runner is clocking those sectionals at the end of the race they rarely get beaten. Expect to see him in Group company very soon.

Fourth placed Broken Arrows posted the fastest last 600m of the race as he ran 32.95 into fourth.

All honours to Tiger Of Malay for his win under 61kg in the feature Group 3 Up & Coming Stakes (1300m) but sectionally the run of the race came from Construct who charged into third from the tail.

Construct ran 33.78 for his last 600m, more than two lengths faster than the next best, and was race best for each of the final three 200m splits.

Tiger Of Malay was very strong late, his last 200m of 11.52 was only 0.03 slower than Construct.

Subterranean will likely be an improver out of the Up & Coming, he clocked 10.65 from the 1000m-800m and 11.06 from the 800m-600m so did some midrace work and kept coming into fourth.

Another track record fell to Frosty Rocks in the Spring Preview (1400m) but it was the first-up run of the import Cepheus that caught the eye, and the clock.

Cepheus posted the fastest last 600m of 33.33 and also the fastest 400m-200m of 10.81 at a distance that his form says should have been a long way short of his best. But the turn of foot shown suggests he could take beating at a mile second-up.

Gaulois was next best in the race running 33.43 for his last 600m and the fastest last 200m of 11.30 as he closed late into second.

A couple of perennial sectional stars featured once again in Exceltic, who clocked 32.91 for his last 600m as he ran fourth in the Midway (1200m), and Blondeau who finished third in the Elite Sand & Soil Handicap (1400m) running 33.09 for his last 600m and a slick 11.08 for his last 200m.

Fastest last 600m: King Of Sparta 32.66

Watch Punter’s Intelligence with Ben Way, Brad Davidson and Brad Gray at 7pm on Tuesday on Sky Thoroughbred Central.

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