Latest News

A few TAB Everest questions were answered and a few more posed after Eduardo ran down Nature Strip to win the Bowermans Commercial Furniture Shorts (1100m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Punter’s Intelligence sectional data showed both Gytrash (third) and Masked Crusader (fifth) posted the fastest last 600m of 34.51 but you do have to wonder how much quicker Gytrash could have gone considering he was held up for runs in the middle part of the straight.

It was basically a tale of two races from a sectional perspective as the leaders burned the turf early, with Nature Strip clocking 10.29 from the 1000m-800m and 10.38 from the 800m-600m.

Where Eduardo won the race could well have been in those two 200m splits – he was able to conserve a little energy running 10.34 and 10.50 and it’s significant that his last 200m was a clear length faster than Nature Strip’s.

Eduardo posted 34.88 for his last 600m and, as the visuals show, he was strong late and his last 200m of 12.36 was only just outside the race best run by Masked Crusader at 12.31.

From a TAB Everest perspective the top three have all stood up, fourth placed Rothfire (34.91 last 600m) just knocked up in his last 200m (12.63) so can be expected to improve while Masked Crusader did what he usually does.

The jury’s out on Lost And Running but given the deteriorating conditions and the fact he raced three wide we can have another look at him in the Premiere Stakes.

It’ll surprise nobody to know that Verry Elleegant clocked the fastest last 600m (34.84) and last 200m (11.86) as she swept home to win the Group 1 Fujitsu General George Main Stakes (1600m).

From a TAB Epsom perspective the runs of Hungry Heart (fourth) and Cascadian (fifth) were excellent, particularly the former who isn’t comfortable in rain affected going.

Cascadian posted the equal second fastest last 600m of 34.94, matched by Think It Over, and he and Hungry Heart shared the second fastest last 200m of 11.90.

Both will drop in weight into the Epsom and appear on target for the $1.5m feature Randwick mile.

High Supremacy showed he’s in for a solid spring preparation with a first-up win in the Agency Handicap (1400m) coming from well back in the field weaving his way through the pack.

The four-year-old clocked the race’s fastest last 600m of 34.20, over three lengths faster than the next best, and his last 200m of 11.68 was well over a length quicker than anything else.

He’s nominated for the $7.5m Golden Eagle (1500m) and who’s to say he can’t work his way into that race later next month.

A couple among the unplaced in the Group 2 Darley Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) are worthy of a mention, Von Trapp came off a Hawkesbury maiden win to finish fourth with a race best last 600m of 35.22 and last 200m of 12.05.

She settled last early while the first three home were the first three around the bend. She’s All Class was another to find herself a long way back and her last 600m of 35.31 was the second fastest so her eighth placing was not bad in the context of the race.

The return clash of She’s Ideel and Montefilia in the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) in two weeks is going to be interesting given the latter will be 3kg better off at the weights.

Montefilia clocked the fastest last 200m of 11.70 in the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) and second fastest last 600m (34.77 behind Attorney’s 34.72) as she charged into second place.

Fastest last 600m: Ahead Start 33.13

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

Click here to download the Punter's Intelligence app.