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The Inglis Sires’ (1400m) kicked off the first of the four feature Group 1s of Day 1 of the Star Championships, and Fireburn put to rest the Golden Slipper hoodoo with an impressive victory.

The race was run at a moderate tempo, with Punter’s Intelligence recording the first 800m being run in 51.11, which was approximately 3.5 slower than the Country Championships Final (1400m).

Fireburn’s win was full of merit. After settling midfield, and having to make her run through the inferior ground, she pulled away from her rivals, posting the third-fastest last 200m sectional of the entire meeting in 11.99.

Further, she ran her last 600m in 35.68, around 3.5-4 lengths faster than the next best Let’srollthedice in 36.27. The filly has won five straight, and the triple crown looks at her mercy.

She’s Extreme, who beat the rest easily, was suited sitting outside the leader throughout and ran her final 200m in 12.56, the race’s second-fastest closing split.

Arguably the win of the day was Hitotsu, who was 1600m-2400m second-up on a testing track, in the Group 1 Australian Derby.

The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace trained colt looked beaten at the 300m mark and then overcame interference to keep finding under pressure running the race fastest last 200m in 12.33 to outstay his challengers.

Benaud and Alegron, who filled the placings, were brave in defeat and there was an 8.19 length margin between third and fourth to confirm their efforts.

Benaud loomed and looked like the winner sprinting the race's clear fastest 400m-200m split in 11.80 but just peaked on his run over the concluding stages.

Grand Final Nature Strip was in full force, winning his third consecutive Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) in dominant fashion.

The World’s Best Sprinter led at a strong tempo, running the race’s first 600m in 36.30, six lengths faster than the PJ Bell Stakes' (1200m) first section in 37.29.

He ran sustained solid sectionals throughout and, even after adjustments, that race rated the highest overall relative to the meeting when historically comparing time, class and additional factors.

Eduardo was honest in defeat after stalking the tempo, and Belluci Babe ran on well, having her first run at Group 1 WFA level. She ran the race’s fastest final 400m sectional in 24.10.

The $3m Star Doncaster Mile was the day’s feature race, and it lived up to the hype with an exciting finish.

The race was run at an even tempo, with the first 1000m in 63.25, and all honours went to the winner Mr Bightside.

The four-year-old gelding was wide with cover throughout and under pressure before the turn but kept responding in the heavy conditions to score, running his final 200m in 12.29.

I’m Thunderstruck loomed as the winner running the race’s second-fastest 600m-200m split in 23.54, but the weight pull and heavy ground told over the final furlong.

Icebath tried hard and ran the race’s second-fastest last 600m in 35.96.

Cascadian was the eye-catcher and carried the top weight giving Mr Brightside 5.5kg. He ran one of the fastest final 400m splits of the entire meeting in 23.63.

Multiple other runs on the day outside of the Group 1 races are worth mentioning when running key sectionals.

The slow race speed did not suit Straight Arron but he easily picked up his rivals, running the fastest final 400m sectional of the day in 22.96, winning the Carbine Club Stakes (1600m).

He is a lightly raced improver on an upwards ratings spiral and can be followed throughout his preparation.

Heresy hit the line hard, overcoming a very-slow pace and ran the meeting’s fastest final 600m in 34.93, winning the PJ Bell Stakes (1200m).

Honeycreeper put the writing on the wall for this week’s Group 1 Star Australian Oaks (2400m) when running through the line full of energy and recording the fifth-fastest final 200m of the entire meeting in 12.03 winning the Adrian Knox Stakes.

The backup on a testing track and the step up in trip looks ideal for the James Cummings trained filly.

Luncies is another one ready to peak for its grand final, which is the Sydney Cup, after running one of the quickest final 400m sectionals of the meeting in 23.69 when running third in the Chairman’s Quality (2600m).

Another One and Commando Hunt had a great battle in the Country Championships Final (1400m), with Commando Hunt flying to just miss after running the second-fastest final 200m of the meeting in 11.79.

However, Another One had to make his run through the inferior ground and won the race when sprinting the fastest 400m-200m split of the race in 11.42.

Fastest last 600m: Heresy 34.93.

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