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It was evident early during the running of the inaugural $500,000 The Lakes that the Wyong feature mile was going to be decided in a sprint home.

So it was a winning move by Alysha Collett on Waterford when she allowed the Chris Waller gelding to stride forward before the 600m mark and before Adam Hyeronimus on the leader Robusto really put the foot down.

Wyong did play generally to those on speed and not too far off the fence so Collett’s decision on Waterford was important.

Punter’s Intelligence sectional data shows the 800m-600m section was crucial to the outcome as Waterford made the early move, running 12.19 compared to Robusto’s 12.49 and then sustaining the run to the post.

Robusto was able to run his first 800m in 51.48, compare that to the other 1600m race on the day which was the Midway where Magnatear ran 48.41 so some 18 lengths faster. Overall, the Midway was run about eight lengths faster than the feature.

It’s fair to say, then, that Robusto had his chance in front.

Waterford and Robusto shared the fastest 400m-200m of 10.70 but the winner’s last 200m of 11.37 was clearly superior as Robusto tired late.

Given it was a sprint home there were some fast sectionals from those behind Waterford, who did run the fastest last 600m of 33.40, and they included St Lawrence who finished eighth and clocked 33.41.

Bonita Queen produced a solid all the way first-up win and she’ll likely improve given she set a solid enough gallop and was able to stave them off despite tapering off late.

Aside from an 11.06 from the 600m-400m, she broke 11 seconds for every split until the final 200m where she ran 11.71 which was the fifth fastest home.

She’d not won first-up previously so while she had the pattern in her favour she was still there to be beaten.

Possibly the hidden run of that race came from Llanddwyn who flashed home right down the outside to run fifth. The Chris Waller-trained mare was last coming to the turn and speared very wide on the bend but was still able to run the fastest 200m splits for the final 600m.

She’s posted 10.88 (600m-400m), then 10.80 (400m-200m) and a last 200m of 11.46 for an overall race best last 600m of 33.14.

It was a noticeable improvement from the mare and she did win fourth and fifth-up last time in so this run suggests she’s on target in the right race.

Dollar Magic matched Llanddwyn’s last 200m as she worked home into another placing.

The effort by Imposant in running second behind Headley Grange in a 1300m event wasn’t dissimilar to that by Llanddwyn as she had to make a long run from well off the pace.

Only the Kris Lees-trained mare and the winner broke 34 seconds for the last 600m. Imposant’s last 200m of 11.55 was the race best as was her last 600m of 33.65 (by about a length).

It was her second run from a spell, as was the case with the winner, and you’d imagine she’s not too far off a breakthrough city win while the winner can certainly go on with it too.

A couple more to note:

- Unstopabull came from an impossible position on the turn to clock a slick 33.32 for his last 600m in running a closing third behind Sandpaper.

- Noble Conqueror held his form from his first-up win, producing the fastest last 600m of 34.03 as he ran on late from last behind the impressive Yorkshire.

Fastest last 600m: Llanddwyn 33.14

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