3 minute read
The Coolmore Classic (1500m) produced a thrilling finish, and the Chris Waller trained mare, Espiona, broke through for her maiden Group 1 win.
Punter's intelligence recorded the race was run at a very fast pace, with leader Pride Of Jenni running the first 900m in 52.22, which was approximately 14 lengths faster than the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) and 15 lengths quicker relative to the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m).
Michael Dee rode Espiona perfectly, but she relaxed well throughout and appreciated the high-pressure event.
The four-year-old sprinted the race's second-fastest final 600m split in 34.45.
She is in career-best form with back-to-back wins and will be hard to beat in her next assignment.
Arguably the run of the day was Pride Of Jenni, and she was outstanding in defeat.
After leading at that speed, the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace mare had no right to stick on the way she did and refused to lose.
To add further merit to her performance, the other on-pace runners faded, and she is one to follow next start.
Sheeza Belter ran well into third, running the race quickest 400m-200m split in 11.31, and there was a big gap to fourth.
More Prophets is ticking over well, clocking the race's fastest final 600m in 34.26, and Hinged ran the equal quickest final 200m in 11.85.
Steel City earned herself a spot in Saturday's $5m Golden Slipper after winning impressively in the Magic Night Stakes (1200m) and posted a career peak figure.
The filly did it on both ends and ran an overall time of 1:10.08. Moreover, that was approximately three lengths quicker than the other two-year-old event, the Pago Pago Stakes (1200m), won by Shinzo.
Blanc De Blanc had to make a long-wide sustained run and didn't have a runner to bring her into the race.
To her credit, she ran on hard and clocked a slick 33.79 for her final 600m.
She is flying this prep but has yet to have any luck with barrier draws.
August Bloom was an eye-catching run after being restrained early from a wide draw.
She hit the line hard and ran her final 600m/400m/200m splits in 33.58/22.38/11.46, which were some of the fastest of the meeting.
The Snowden galloper has a strong platform and will excel when stepping up in distance.
Although running slower time in the Pago Pago, Shinzo put his opposition away well and ran his final 600m in 34.02.
Zougotcha got her campaign back on track after winning the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) with ease.
As previously referenced, the race was run at a slow tempo, and although the filly had every chance, she did it in style.
She sprinted one of the fastest final 600m sectionals of the entire meeting in 33.39 and went through the line full of energy.
The Chris Waller trained runner is adaptable, can sprint off slow/fast tempos and will be even more suited in a genuinely run race.
Further, everything about her sectional/ratings profile suggests she is ready to peak third-up in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m).
Brosnan wasn't suited to the pace of the race and also covered an extra 2.1m relative to the winner.
However, he kept building through his gears and ran the race's quickest final 200m in 11.36.
Awesome John was outpaced when the sprint went on but closed solidly over the final furlong running 11.46 for that split.
A quick mention on the Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) that produced multiple sectional standout performers, with the race being run at a farcical tempo.
Quick Tempo flew home running the fastest closing sectionals of the meeting and was the only runner to brake 32 seconds on the day for their final 600m in 31.99.
Clemenceau had factors against him but still ran the second-quickest final 200m in 10.95. He will be fitter for that and expect significant improvement second-up.
Fastest last 600m: Quick Tempo 31.99
