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If you’re a Wodeton fan, now’s not the time to doubt his claims on next month’s $5m TAB Golden Slipper on the back of his defeat at Rosehill.

It’s easy to say he was disappointing in the sense that he wasn’t able to cement his spot with victory in the Silver Slipper (1100m) but from a sectional perspective he loses no admirers.

Punter’s Intelligence data showed Wodeton ran the fastest last 600m of the race in 33.49 and this is despite posting the fastest 800m-600m of 11.21 meaning he had to sustain his run for much of the race.

From the outside barrier he was caught wide and that early move after being stuck on a limb at the tail of the field kept him in the game.

He covered considerably more ground than any of his rivals running 1108m and the relatively small drop off between his 400m-200m (10.94) and final 200m (11.37) illustrates that he didn’t give up the chase.

Given he was five weeks between runs it was an excellent performance and sets him up to press his case in the Todman Stakes up to 1200m in two weeks, in which he will need to win or perhaps run second to shore up a Slipper berth.

The run of Buffalo in sixth place should be mentioned, while he was never going to be winning given the head start he conceded he’s run 33.50 for his last 600m and his last 200m of 11.26 was clearly the race’s fastest.

The winner Beiwacht just tracked the leader and sprinted clear running 10.87, the fastest of the race, for the 400m-200m. He’s put himself in the Slipper frame now and if we see him again before the big race it’ll be interesting to see if he can back it up.

Broadsiding returned as most expected with a pleasing win in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) where it was a case of the colt putting himself in a winning position early then going through his gears.

That’s why his sectionals don’t jump out with a last 600m of 33.69, fourth fastest of the race, and last 200m of 11.38 (third fastest). But it’s the drop off between his final two sectionals, which was the second best of the race, that showed he was still strong to the line.

The flashing light came from runner-up Swiftfalcon who posted the meeting’s fastest last 600m of 32.88 as he stormed home from the back into second placing.

It was a building run from the gelding who produced a faster sectional than each preceding split until posting his best of 10.67 from the 400m-200m. His last 200m of 11.18 was the race’s best.

He’ll appreciate stepping up in distance next time for his next clash with Broadsiding.

Linebacker found himself back in the field in the Hobartville, a stark contrast to when he led first-up, but he did work home okay and was the only other horse to break 11 seconds for the 400m-200m (10.95).

Has Dark Glitter emerged as a player in mares Group company after her slashing second in the Millie Fox Stakes?

She was an impressive winner of a Midway prior to tackling the Group 2 and, though she's been up for a while, she sizzled home running the meeting’s fastest last 200m of 11.02 and second fastest last 600m of 32.92 as she gave the winner Firestorm a fright.

A few others to note:

Exit Fee’s win in the TAB Highway was dominant, he ran clearly the fastest last 600m of 34.04 and his last 200m of 11.39 was almost two lengths better than anything else. The Country Championships Wild Card might come up too soon for him but he's still improving.

Ciaron Maher should be able to place Wallenda to advantage after her much improved second in the Ranvet Handicap (1100m) second-up from a break. She had a hard luck story early in the straight but ran 33.41 for her last 600m and her last 200m of 11.38 was a length faster than next best.

There was a bit to like about Athabascan’s finish in the Parramatta Cup, he ran the fastest last 600m of 33.45 fresh over the 1900m to finish midfield. He may take one more run but he’s come back in good order.

Fastest last 600m: Swiftfalcon 32.88

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