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She’ll never have the reputation of her big grey stablemate that also carries the ‘Legend’ name but Madam Legend shoved aside an indifferent summer prep with a dynamic first-up win at Rosehill on Saturday.

The four-year-old sat three wide with cover in the Warren Woodcock Handicap (1100m) and, when let down, Punter’s Intelligence sectional data showed she reeled off the meeting’s fastest last 600m of 33.52 to put the race away.

She was the only horse in the race to break 11 seconds from the 400m-200m and she produced the meeting’s fastest last 200m of 11.03.

Perhaps sprinting is her go, after two placings at 1200m and 1100m last prep she wasn’t competitive at distances beyond that – or perhaps she trained off.

There was yet another hard luck story for Hulk as he ran into second place after being badly held up for runs once again.

His last 600m of 33.71 under that circumstance is strong and considering he was held up until the 100m his final 200m of 11.12 again illustrates he’s flying.

We may have seen a Kosciuszko contender in the shape of Patino Ruby who was dominant in taking out the Peter Kafataris Handicap (1300m).

The filly’s final 600m of 34.83 was over three lengths faster than the next best, her 400m-200m (11.42) and last 200m (12.04) were also clearly superior. While the overall time was a bit on the slow side it was only her sixth race start.

It will be worth forgiving the run of Major Artie, who finished seventh behind Patino Ruby after being checked badly at the start and conceding five or six lengths.

His last 600m of 35.38 was the second fastest of the race but he made a long run in the middle stages to play catch up. His 1000m-800m (11.46), 800m-600m (11.32) and 600m-400m (11.26) were all easily the fastest of the race.

Normally an on-pacer, he’s won up to a mile and he won second-up last preparation.

Bandersnatch had control of proceedings in the Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) and the first 800m was key to him being able to sprint a bit better than those around him and hold off the stronger finishers.

He clocked a 48.86 first 800m before Brenton Avdulla lifted the tempo enough to break away from the on-pacers. His last 600m of 34.76 was only the fifth best of the race.

It was left to the usual suspects to produce the fastest sectionals of the race. Wandabaa clocked 33.96, including the fastest last 200m of 11.68, as she ran into fourth place while runner-up Tricky Gal recorded 34.00.

The ACY Securities Handicap (1400m) was run significantly slower than the Civic Stakes over the same trip, to the tune of about five lengths, so the effort of Amoretti is worth noting.

He was first-up from almost two months off the scene and settled last before charging into fifth place with easily a race best 33.80 for his last 600m. He’ll be fitter next time and don’t be surprised if he goes close, particularly at Canterbury where his last two wins have come.

They called it the Stayers Cup but the 3200m feature at Rosehill was a sprint home.

The overall time was nine seconds outside the course record but the last 600m splits wouldn’t have been out place in races more than half the staying trip.

The winner Sweet Thomas recorded a last 600m of 34.59 while runner-up Kaapfever clocked 34.29 for his last 600m and his last 200m of 11.59 was only 0.04 slower than Amoretti’s from the 1400m event.

Fastest last 600m: Madam Legend 33.52

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