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Where does Godolphin colt Paulele stand in the three-year-old picture after his comprehensive win in Saturday’s Listed Rosebud (1100m) at Randwick?

Not only did he shoulder 59kg, Punter’s Intelligence sectional data revealed he reeled off the meeting’s equal fastest last 600m of 32.44 as he raced to a 2-1/2 length win.

He sat midfield behind a solid tempo, the first 500m was run in 28.82 some eight lengths faster than the same section of the 1100m benchmark race that followed, produced a 10.52 between the 400m-200m to burst clear and his last 200m of 11.17 was only 0.05 outside the race’s best.

This win suggests Paulele, who was a Group 3 winner in the autumn, has gone up a notch and we’ll find out more in the San Domenico Stakes in three weeks when he takes on Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside.

There was plenty of attention on Remarque coming out of the Rosebud and it was that 400m-200m section, where he was held up for runs, that proved costly. How close he gets to Paulele is up for debate.

Remarque ran a last 600m of 32.73 and he clocked the fastest 800m-600m (10.58), 600m-400m (10.65) and last 200m (11.12). But his 400m-200m of 10.96 was close to three lengths slower than Paulele’s.

He’s clearly a talent and it’ll be interesting to see him second-up.

Hawkes Racing has an up and comer in Kingsheir who resumed as a gelding with a dynamic win in the ATC Thank You Jockeys Handicap (1300m).

The lightly raced five-year-old enjoyed an economical run behind the speed and took an inside run as he posted a 32.89 for his last 600m, three lengths faster than the next best in the race.

Each split in that final 600m was clearly the fastest, he ran 10.89 from the 600m-400m then 10.70 from the 400m-200m and a last 200m of 11.30.

Kingsheir came out of this first-up win with a 74 rating so he has a couple of grades to go through before he’s tested in better company so he can be followed with confidence next time around.

What do we make of the wash up from the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m)?

Five of the seven runners posted a last 600m of 32.86 or better, Kolding sat on the speed and weakened running 33.12 while Fasika led and ran 33.13 but she was found to have bled so to hold on for third was a game effort.

Phobetor’s last 600m of 32.74 was the fourth best of the race with the fastest clocked by Hightail, who finished sixth, who equalled the meeting’s best of 32.44.

His splits are interesting, he ran 10.93 from the 800m-600m then 10.90 from the 600m-400m and 10.47 from the 400m-200m – all best of the race – before a last 200m of 11.07 and he was forced to ease nearing the line.

Great House was coming back in trip into the Billy Camer Handicap (1500m) and he warmed up nicely when the race was all over, after turning last he produced a last 600m of 33.29 (second best in the race) and the fastest last 200m of 11.20 into seventh.

The winner Matowatakpe continued his strong recent form clocking the fastest last 600m of the race (33.26).

Bazooka is still the winner of just one race but his effort in the Midway Handicap (1800m) off a wide gate says he’s flying at the moment and a breakthrough isn’t far off if he can get the breaks.

He settled near last and exploded late to run a last 600m of 34.02 which was three lengths faster than the next best, his last 200m of 11.49 was two lengths better than his rivals.

Fastest last 600m: Paulele, Hightail 32.44

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