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There was barely a moment of concern for punters that backed Ellsberg in the $160,000 G2 Petaluma Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill but the Villiers Stakes in a fortnight looks far from a foregone conclusion.

Sure, the four-year-old is a deserved $4 favourite in TAB’s all in market but the runs of Brutality and Mubariz had more merit than meets the eye.

On a day where it was a huge advantage to find the fence in run, give a double tick to any runner that swung widest and made ground.

Brutality posted the second quickest last 600m in the race (34.71s) bettered only by his stablemate Stockman (34.44s) who was the beneficiary of a clever rails-hugging ride from Jay Ford.

Mubariz, meanwhile, matched it with Brutality until the concluding stages before his condition blew out first up. He profiles as a sharp improver second up.

Speedy mare Vulpine never gave her rivals a chance in the $140,000 Listed Chandon Starlight Stakes (1100m).

The Brad Widdup-trained sprinter found the front very comfortably, after Spaceboy began awkwardly, and she ripped clear for a dominant win.

The win was as sharp on the clock as it was impressive to the eye, with Vulpine clocking a 33.75s last 600m from in front.

So what did the runner up Dream Circle clock? A sizzling 32.91s last 600m. He found the best part of the Rosehill track but that’s smoking on rain affected ground.

It was the fastest last 600m split of the meeting, with the seventh placed Edison the second quickest (33.44s). He’s one the market may miss next time.

Two-year-old Lady Laguna made a big impression in the opening race, racing clear to win by a widening four lengths.

Tommy Berry managed to pinch a breather between the 600-400m mark (12.17s) which set up a big finale. She delivered with her strength through the line the key takeaway.

The youngster clocked 11.46s for her final 200m split, only bettered by Dream Circle’s 11.04 across the entire ten race card.

Chris Waller’s progressive mare Brookspire confirmed what we already knew, that she is a galloper capable of marching through the grades.

Despite running second to Expat, her reputation only grew given she was 11 weeks between runs and travelled deep throughout. She covered an extra 5.2m than the winner.

In the meeting’s TAB Highway Handicap (1200m), there was merit to what Furphy did on the clock after making a mess of the start.

His 34.96s last 600m split was bettered only by the winner Testator Silens. It’d be no surprise to see Furphy fighting out the finish in a similar grade of race when he next appears.

Fastest last 600m: Dream Circle 32.91s

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