By every measure Via Sistina was simply far too good for her rivals in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.
She wasn’t the best away and found herself buried back in the ruck coming to the turn so she needed to produce something special, and special she did.
Punter’s Intelligence data showed she ran the fastest last 600m of 35.75 in the 2000m contest, only one other broke 35, and the only horse to break 12 seconds for the last 200m (11.94).
Between the 600m and 400m things got a bit interesting for Via Sistina as her 11.72 was the fourth slowest for that section. When James McDonald was able to find some room she exploded.
An 11.09 from the 400m-200m was over two lengths faster than any other horse. She was just too classy.
Respect must go to runner-up Dubai Honour, he tracked wide and covered an extra 15.6m (10m more than Via) yet still continued to find the line as he ran the second fastest last 200m of 12.11.
What we should remember out of the Queen Elizabeth is that Ceolwulf is the real deal. Not that there was any doubt, his two Group 1s in the spring told us so, but it’s fair to say he didn’t really get the platform to show it.
Barrier 13 saw the four-year-old settle last and while the race was run in close to track record time he did an enormous job to finish as close as he did in fifth place.
He clocked the second fastest last 600m of the race running 34.96 which is a solid effort considering he started his run around the 1000m mark, running 11.39 from the 1000m-800m.
That includes having to circle the field, so he’s covered some 9m more than the winner.
This campaign could be the transitional one he needed at the top level and he may well be a serious force next spring.
An exceptional turn of foot got Treasurethe Moment out of trouble in the Australian Oaks as the leader and runner-up Sun ‘N’ Sand got away with some very slow sections.
From as far out as the 1800m mark the brakes went on and she’s run 13.45, 13.80, 13.52, 13.46 and 13.02 before they picked up the pace around the 800m.
Treasurethe Moment has run 33.63 for her last 600m and 11.44 for her last 200m to arrive in time.
Away from the feature races, Interjection looks to be a coming winner after another eye-catching performance in the South Pacific Classic.
The three-year-old settled last in the 1400m race and left himself with plenty to do but he’s run a sizzling 33.61 for his last 600m and 11.17 for his last 200m as he charged into a close third.
Whether a race like the Hawkesbury Guineas will suit, or perhaps he’s ready for a mile again, a peak doesn’t look far away.
Don’t underestimate the run by Meridiana in the same race, she was back behind Interjection early and when she pulled to the outside in the straight she sprinted sharply, running 11.48 (600m-400m) and 10.62 (400m-200m) before knocking up late.
Her last 600m was the second best of the race in 33.69.
It’ll be interesting to see what Michelangelo can do if he gets into a race run at any kind of tempo because he’s been a bit of a hidden run on the day despite finishing fifth in the Fernhill.
The mile race for two-year-olds was run at a very slow pace, the winner Spicy Lu got away with a 12.79 midrace, and the colt has run 33.72 to be the race’s best by just under a length.
The problem for him was the winner has run 33.95 and with the start he gave away, a clear last at one point, it was impossible for him to get any closer.
Fastest last 600m: Private Life 32.46
Watch Punter’s Intelligence at 7pm on Tuesdays on Sky Thoroughbred Central.