Latest News

She had an indifferent summer preparation but Godolphin mare Handspun’s performance first-up at Randwick is a sign she’s back on track.

Punter’s Intelligence sectional data showed Handspun recorded the meeting’s fastest last 600m of 35.33 as she ran into third in the Heineken Handicap (1000m).

The five-year-old is not really a 1000m horse, her best is 1200m-1300m, so to sprint as she did from the back, held up for a run at times early in the straight too, it’s encouraging for the rest of the winter.

She clocked 11.39 from the 400m-200m and her last 200m of 12.26 was half a length faster than anything else.

Take nothing away from the winner Our Bellagio Miss who sat on the speed without cover and still produced a last 600m of 35.52 and a last 200m of 12.34 so she’s at the top of her game over the short course.

Super Effort was one of the more unlucky runners at Randwick but that aside his effort to finish second, on protest, in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (1200m) proved he’s up to winning a similar race soon.

His last 600m of 36.23 was just a tick outside the race best and that was while running into traffic over the final 400m.

He was warming up nicely with 11.92 (800m-600m) and 12.05 (600m-400m), both race best, then 11.95 (400m-200m) and 12.23 last 200m.

The winner Fastconi produced the fastest last 600m of the race (36.21) and last 200m (12.04) as he scooted along the fence.

Steely is a horse in super form at the moment and his win in the ACY Securities Handicap (1800m) was one of the more dominant performances of the day.

His last 600m of 37.96 was about five lengths faster than the next best in the race, the last 200m of 13.31 was also the fastest but interestingly only by 0.01 seconds. Though well beaten Kaapfever clocked 13.32 for his last 200m.

War Eternal stamped himself a promising youngster as he looked strong late in winning the Schweppes Handicap (1400m), he clocked 36.49 for his last 600m and his last 200m of 12.19 was also the race’s best.

He was protected from the wind for a good portion of the straight and with that in mind the runner-up Revivalist running 36.78, fourth best, after doing all the work had merit.

Another run to note is Monegal who produced a race best last 600m of 36.14 and last 200m of 12.21 as she ran a close first-up third in the Tax Today Handicap (1400m).

Overall, the times recorded at Randwick suggest it was hard work in the heavy ground with a headwind so that should be kept in mind when assessing performances from the meeting going forward.

Fastest last 600m: Handspun 35.33

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.