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Cascadian was impressive winning the final Group 1 of the Sydney carnival in the Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m). Although well suited, he backed it up on the clock running fast overall time relative to the day and strong closing sectionals.

Punter’s Intelligence recorded he ran the fourth fastest last 400m split of the entire meeting in 24.21. In addition, his final 200m was in 12.39 which was the third quickest of the meeting.

It was an advantage to settle fence in run on another testing track, and the superior ground was lanes 1 & 2 in the final straight.

The All Aged Stakes was run at a solid pace even after adjusting for age, class and additional factors, with the first 800m being run in 49.00.

We can bring strong comparisons with three other races coming out of the 1400m chute and analyse the pace of each race. The Midway Handicap’s first 800m was run in 49.62, Mostyncopper James H. B Carr Stakes in 50.71 and the Silverdale Farm Handicap in 50.37.

Arguably the run of the day was Tofane, who was courageous, and her run was full of merit. The six-year-old mare was wide without cover in the inferior ground and was left in front a long way from home after sprinting well but was gobbled up over the final 50m with a big gap to third.

Even after disadvantages in the run, she sprinted the race’s second-fastest 400m-200m split in 12.02. After a fantastic career, the four-time Group 1 winner will retire and head to the breeding barn.

Ellsberg was honest after settling handy to the solid tempo, and Zoutori got through his gears late, running the second-fastest last 200m of the race in 12.98.

The two favourites Forbidden Love and In The Congo were both well beaten and disappointing.

Espiona was back to her best against her age/sex and was utterly dominant, winning by 4.38 lengths.

The lightly-raced three-year-old filly settled in lane two, and only one other galloper did that on the day to win. James McDonald idled up to the leaders and, when asking for a maximum effort, she shot away, running the entire meeting’s quickest final 200m sectional in 12.18.

As referenced, the race was run at a slow tempo, approximately 10.5-11 lengths behind the All Aged Stakes to the 800m mark and, although well beaten, there was merit in some of the beaten brigade.

Party For One, who is ready to win, ran on well, running the fifth quickest final 200m split of the meeting in 12.56 and had the pace/bias against her.

Dynasties sprinted the race’s equal fastest 600m-400m split in 11.98 and Festival Dancer who is suited over further ran on strongly running her final 600m in 36.50.

The Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) was run at a farcical pace, with the first 1000m being run in 1:05.36.

She’s Extreme had all favours, and Tommy Berry’s tactics were a masterclass. He let the filly rip from the 600m-400m, and that was the key winning split running it in 11.71.

The Anthony Cummings trained two-year-old kept responding well under pressure and maintained a strong finishing speed to fend off the challengers running the second-fastest final 600m split of the meeting in 35.84.

Fireburn was outstanding in defeat and she ran her final 600m/400m splits in 35.49/23.75, which were the quickest individual closing sectionals across the entire meeting.

She had disadvantages in the run and, to put her final 600m in perspective, it was approximately two lengths faster than She’s Extreme and three lengths quicker than Espiona.

The Group 1 Golden Slipper and Inglis Sires’ winner should lose no admirers and can be followed when returning from a well-deserved spell.

A quick mention of other sectional performers included Kementari, who savaged the line. The seven-year-old gelding ran the fourth fastest final 600m sectional of the entire meeting in 36.06 and ran a fast overall time relative to the day.

Two runs coming out of the TAB Highway Handicap (1200m) had merit after running well sectionally against the pattern of the day.

Mr Hussill is ready to peak after having the pace/bias against him and ran the sixth-fastest final 600m split of the meeting in 36.16.

Whatever I Say was also not suited and ran the fastest final 200m split in 12.69 of the race.

Fastest Final 600m: Fireburn 35.49.

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