Latest News

It’s easy to look behind Lost And Running and focus on the eye-catchers out of the $1m The Hunter (1300m) but simply he was too classy for his rivals at Newcastle.

The head wind in the straight played some havoc throughout the day, making it tough to make up ground, and the overall time 1:17.44 was just under two seconds slower than Savatiano’s race and track record for the 1300m.

But Lost And Running sat three wide under 59kg and was as strong as anything else on the line.

Punter's Intelligence sectional data showed he clocked 35.18 for his last 600m, the fourth fastest of the race, and 12.09 for his last 200m which was only 0.09 outside the race’s best. So he’s done the work and kept going while the leaders inside him faded in the run home.

Runner-up Wandabaa posted the fastest last 600m of 34.85 and covered more ground than any other runner with an extra 11.5m.

Signore Fox had a hard luck story and did some ducking and weaving as he ran 34.92 for his last 600m and was equal with Kementari on 12.00 for the last 200m.

The import Top Ranked was clearly outsprinted in the early part of the straight, his 400m-200m of 11.51 was only the seventh best while his last 200m of 12.11 was fifth best and not too far outside the quickest of the race so his local debut was excellent.

The Hunter was faster overall than the Benchmark 88 over the 1300m but the latter race was run about two lengths faster to the 600m.

Much Much Better had the foot down early to find the lead, running 41.84 for the first 700m (42.21 in The Hunter) but they found the second half of the race tougher going as his winning time was three lengths slower than the feature.

Brutality hit the line strongly along the fence into third place at his second run back and he clocked 35.25 for his last 600m and a race best last 200m of 12.29.

He’s never won on a good track so if he strikes a bit softer ground next time, and he is nominated for The Gong meeting at Kembla Grange this weekend, he’ll go close.

Once again Kinloch produced slick sectionals finishing on late into fourth, he ran 35.18 for his last 600m and 12.38 for his last 200m.

Arguably one of the performances of the day was the import Huetor won took out a Benchmark 78 over 1600m at his first run in Australia.

He gave them a start and he ran easily the fastest last 600m of the race, 36.15, and his last 200m of 12.19 was also a race best by about half a length.

His overseas form was beyond 2000m so this was a promising first-up performance, off one trial, and you’d imagine he’ll only improve.

He’s done it before but Arnaqueur sizzled from the back in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) running 35.73 which was over two lengths quicker than the next best.

That horse is Kokoro who ran 36.13 for his last 600m then they shared the best last 200m of 12.70.

Fastest last 600m: Matisse’s Comet 34.65

Watch Punter’s Intelligence with Ben Way, Brad Davidson and Brad Gray at 7pm on Tuesday on Sky Thoroughbred Central.

Click here to download the Punter's Intelligence app.