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If the visual dominance of Dubai Honour’s smashing win in the $5m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) wasn’t enough, the UK galloper also managed to produce the meeting’s fastest last 600m.

It’s not a bad achievement in a 2000m race but it’s an illustration of how slow the tempo was with the Japanese leader Unicorn Lion not stretching them out as expected. The first 1000m was run in a pedestrian 1:07.56.

They stopped the clock over seven seconds (more than 40 lengths) slower than the course record, the track of course had an impact with jockeys describing it as a bit gluey earlier in the day, but it emphasises the job Dubai Honour was required to go – and he put 2-1/2 lengths on them at the finish.

What we learned about Dubai Honour in his Ranvet Stakes win last month was his ability to sustain a long run and that’s exactly what he did in winning the Queen Elizabeth – but this time he settled worse than midfield and covered more ground than most of the field.

Punter's Intelligence data showed the five-year-old picked up his game from the 800m, clocking 11.86 from the 800m-600m then upped the ante again with 11.28 (600m-400m), 11.26 (400m-200m) and kept powering with his last 200m of 11.99. The last 600m of 34.53 was the quickest of the entire meeting.

His major rival Anamoe’s sectionals, noting he was a couple of lengths ahead of Dubai Honour midrace, were 11.96, 11.48, 11.47 – a very solid sustained run – before knocking up the last 200m in 12.34.

Anamoe’s overall last 600m was 35.29 or about five lengths slower than Dubai Honour.

Clearly the nine time Group 1 winner wasn’t quite at his best – Mo’unga, whose measure he usually has, snatched second from him on the line – but at the same time Dubai Honour has put in a superior performance and you’d imagine William Haggas will bring him back in 2024.

Mo’unga continues to race well and it’ll be interesting to see if he earns another season given Anamoe is headed for stud in the spring. He clocked the fastest last 200m of the race of 11.93 and second fastest last 600m of 34.83.

Annabel Neasham’s filly Kristilli stamped herself as a youngster to watch next season with her exciting win in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m).

At just her second race start, she rounded up some talented fillies and posted a last 600m of 34.81, second fastest of the meeting, as she put almost two lengths on her rivals at the finish.

There were a couple of nice runs behind her. Bossy Nic attacked the line nicely from back in the field running 35.32 for her last 600m and it’d be worth forgiving Captain Amelia who finished seventh.

She settled last and was detached from the field, she ran her race from the 800m-200m (34.20) so it didn’t surprise she weakened a bit at the finish but that midrace work meant her last 600m was 35.27 and second fastest in the race.

Spangler was dynamic in winning the Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) from near last with a cracking ride from James McDonald helping him out.

He saved a lot of ground by staying to the fence but he was still able to wind up and run 34.85 for his last 600m, of course the fastest of the race, and he was the only horse in the event to break 12 seconds for the final 200m (11.91), the fastest of the meeting.

From an overall time perspective, the South Pacific Classic was run faster over the same trip and by a couple of lengths. Razeta posted 34.91 for the last 600m as she scored an easy win.

The horse to follow out of the race is Kovalica, who was first-up and charged down the outside late to almost snatch second with a 34.97 last 600m and race’s fastest last 200m of 12.05.

He’s already a Group 3 winner over 2100m so he’s clearly come back well and will relish more ground.

The first-up run of Kiku in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) had plenty of merit, she found herself a long way back and worked home in 35.23 for her last 600m which was third best of the race and she was held up a little in the straight.

Fastest last 600m: Dubai Honour

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