Latest News

“He’s an exciting horse for the future.”

Those were the words used by Hugh Bowman to explain the progressive two-year-old Flag Of Honour after his strong win in the Furphy Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The Kris Lees trained galloper wasn’t suited to settling near the rear of the field in a moderate tempo. Further, Punter’s Intelligence recorded the race leader Vinnie’s Spirit ran the first 800m in 50.86, which was approximately 3.5 lengths slower compared to the Victor Ludorum @ Darley Handicap (1400m).

The gelding did it all himself after having to make a long-wide sustained run with no runner to take him into the race. He ran one of the fastest final 400m/200m splits of the entire meeting in 23.23/11.81.

He is an improver and one to follow this preparation and next.

Favourite Alberich had every chance but tried hard in defeat with a gap to third. He ran his final 600m in 35.61 and will undoubtedly gain from the race experience.

Renaissance Woman sprinted the races quickest 600m-400m split in 11.54 and Diaco although well beaten had the pace/bias against and ran his final 200m in 11.91.

Pretty Wild bounced back into the winner’s stall and ran fast time, winning the Bowermans Handicap (1200m). Additionally, that race rated highly relative to the day after adjustments and the decisive margins throughout confirm the quality.

She stalked an even pace and maintained a strong finishing speed to the line running her final 200m in 12.03.

The three-year-old filly is a nice type and revels in the rain-affected ground.

Pizarro was brave in defeat and couldn’t reel in the eventual winner. Moreover, he hit the line hard, running one of the quickest final 200m sectionals of the meeting in 11.87 and beating the rest easily.

The John O’Shea trained gallopers sectional profile indicates he is ready to peak third-up and will be well placed in a similar grade.

Smashing Eagle’s run had hidden merit after having multiple factors against him throughout transit. He was honest in defeat after being restrained early from a wide draw and was disadvantaged by the pace/bias.

He had too much to do and ran the race’s fastest 400m-200m split in 11.31. The colt has come back improved this prep and can settle much closer from a kinder draw next start.

NZ import Cacofonix resumed over an unsuitable distance with the topweight and ran the race fastest, 600m-400m in 11.51. Watch for him over further.

Another import Bold Mac won well in his Australian Debut and was a solid winner in the Benchmark 88 (1400m).

Placegetter Blesk was 35 days between runs, travelled in the inferior ground, and went down fighting after sprinting the race’s second quickest final 600m in 35.07. He is fitter and screaming out for a drier track.

One of the top runs of the day was Toomuchtobear, who resumed with a significant weight and ran on well.

The four-year-old gelding ran the entire meeting’s fastest final 600m/400m/200m splits in 34.60/23.04/11.65. Expect him to have a solid campaign, and extra distance is ideal.

It’s worth noting Lord Ardmore who produced a career peak figure and won the Vale Nick Moraitis Handicap (1800m) in style. This is his second prep in Australia, and it may be the making of him.

Please note there was no data available for races nine and ten.

Fastest last 600m: Toomuchtobear 34.60

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

Click here to download the Punter's Intelligence app