There was no better performance at Randwick on Saturday, either to the eye or on the clock, than the win of Private Eye in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) and it makes you wonder what he can achieve this spring.
Punter’s Intelligence sectional data shows the four-year-old clocked the meeting’s fastest last 600m of 32.75 as he mowed down Embracer to win first-up.
And he was so strong running the last 200m in 11.19, almost a length and a half faster than the next best, in a race that was a serious sprint home.
There were three 1200m races at Randwick and the first 600m of each tells an interesting story.
Show County: 36.67; Benchmark 78 35.31; Silver Shadow 35.17. There was very little difference in overall time between the Show County and Silver Shadow while the lower grade race was run about four lengths faster.
So the Show County’s first 600m was about eight lengths slower than the Benchmark 78 won by More Prophets which is why the final 600m times from the Show County were so much faster and that adds even more merit to the win of Private Eye.
Two others broke 33 seconds for their last 600m in the Show County and their runs are worth noting; Prime Star clocked 32.94 and was matching Private Eye until knocking up slightly the last 200m, and Fender hit the line strongly in 32.89 running into sixth.
The Group 2 Silver Shadow was a strange race to watch as the fillies bunched right up coming to the turn, though as previously noted the first 600m was quite solid.
Latino Blend recorded the race’s fastest last 600m of 34.37 and last 200m of 11.75 as she ran into second at big odds while one of the unlucky runners was Mallory who ran 34.77 and didn’t get a clear shot at them.
And out of the Gow Gates Handicap (1200m), Cuban Royale was the eye-catcher as he ran 33.43 for his last 600m (over a length faster) and 11.48 for the last 200m from last into sixth.
The Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) was something of a bunched finish and from a sectional perspective it was all about the stayer She’s Ideel’s slashing performance to run third.
She clocked a race best 33.62 for her last 600m and her 400m-200m of 10.86 was also a race best, plus she was only 0.01 outside the quickest last 200m (11.21). That was her first run since the Sydney Cup so she’s clearly come back flying.
Japanese import Keiai Nautique posted the fastest last 200m of 11.20 (last 600m 33.91) as he ran into fourth and Cascadian’s last 600m of 33.86 was second best in the race.
Verry Elleegant was gallant in defeat, she covered 1409.7m which was more ground than any other runner in the race and the winner Mo’unga, who had her back, covered 1408.8m and that told on both of them late as they ran 11.69 and 11.63 respectively for their last 200m.
Fituese was responsible for the meeting’s second fastest last 600m (32.78) as she swept home to win the Group 3 Toy Show (1100m) in a race that had a few runs to note.
Forbidden Love stormed home from well back into fourth and she clocked 32.89 for her last 600m while Written Beauty, who was very slow at the start, posted 32.90 in running fifth.
And New Arrangement showed he’s looking for a mile as he worked home well into seventh in the Darwin Turf Club Trophy (1400m) as he matched the race’s best last 600m of 33.89 with his 400m-200m of 10.94 the best of the race.
Fastest last 600m: Private Eye 32.75
Watch Punter’s Intelligence with Ben Way, Brad Davidson and Brad Gray at 7pm on Tuesday on Sky Thoroughbred Central.