Rock hard fit and no improvement to come, but this late season filly has virtually matched her all time best (+1.3) set at Mornington 2nd up when winning 19/04, so the reality is if she can hold this figure she can win again. -4.6 and -4.1 over the first two sections were very "cruizey" before a big +6.6 last 400 kick down. That was the 4th best last 400 of the day in staving off the red hot favourite SHE'S AN ARTIST. Clearly the stable backed off her in the 7 weeks between runs - 10/05 to 21/06 - given her late blow out a fortnight prior to this run, and she peaked at this black type target race.

Subsequently: Winner Bletchingly Stakes 26/07 Caulfield. Twice stakes placed spring and spelled. First up Flemington winner 28/02

This is a very promising filly! 1st up 2nd start after an effortless Tatura 1100 maiden win last September when just -4.6 lengths below benchmark. Here off a very sharp jump out 19/01 just had a cruise but in fast sustained time. -0.2 at the 800, before -0.8 in the mid race losing a sharp 2.3 lengths from the 600 to 400 under a hold. Last 400 was +3.8 closing with the 6th best last 600, 400 and 200 of the night. We look forward to measuring her progress, but winning again off this very basic BM66 class looks a likely next step

Subsequently: Winner Flemington 28/02

Peaked in his $2million target race 4th up with an excellent performance in a high pressure set up, and last prep he won at starts number 5, 6 and 7 with his last two IVR figures his career best going +1.1 at Rosehill and +1.3 at Flemington, so he has a history of finding form and holding form. +0.6 at the 800 was very good speed, but 6.3 lengths from the lead. +0.1 in the mid race and +3.3 last 400. This included last bit best bit +2.5 last 200 in isolation. Of softer tempos he has three last 400 splits between +4.1 and +6.9 showing his tactical versatility.

Subsequently: Winner Randwick 28/02 at $9

Had good market support off a 69 day freshen, first run new stable, after originally starting his career with Waterhouse Bott and winning 3 races for them, and then having 8 runs for Alex Rae which included a nose 2nd at Moonee Valley April on very wet ground. What he showed was excellent speed first section going +7.0 lengths above benchmark at the 800 sitting 2nd line, before -1.2 in the mid race and -2.1 last 400 as the early exertion told. Should be at his absolute top now, and particularly if finding a "fence on" firm summer track, will take a power of catching in similar company from here.

Subsequently: 2nd Flemington 17/01 then winner Caulfield 07/02 winner Flemington 28/02

The rising rock star of Australian racing made it 9 from 9 with this outstanding return, with a new first up PB from +3.1. Sat 2nd line off a soft tempo going -10.3 at the 800, before +3.6 from the 800 to 400 meaning a booming 14 length mid race squeeze. Sustained her close with +7.3 last 400 meaning a freakish 2nd best last 600, 400 and 200 of the day at the end of 1400 while winning easily! Last bit best bit +4.6 last 200 and that matches the best last 200 of her career. Her overall PB sits at +4.9 from the Epsom and that looks a conservative target this time in! We look forward to tracking her progress.

Subsequently: Winner Randwick 28/02

What a return! Import effectively just starting his 3rd full prep with Chris Waller - after a Geelong Cup "cameo" spring 2024, and he's "screamed" the champion trainer has him right and ready to go to a new level. -3.5 at the 800 was very good speed for a 1400 given his staying profile, before -1.3 in the mid race and a booming +7.2 last 400. His all time Australian PB is +1.3 set winning over 2000 at Randwick 3rd up last September, and it would be no surprise if he sailed past that this time in. The Australian Cup looks a logical target from here before heading back to Sydney.

Subsequently: Winner Blamey 28/02

What a return! Her first up runs/wins have been -6.7 Warwick Farm December 2024 - including the best last 400 and 200 of the day - and +1.1 at Rosehill last September, so she's returned with a resuming PB saying "the trend is her friend" and a new level is in play this time in. -2.5 at the 800 stalking the lead, before +2.3 in the mid race and +4.2 last 400 with the *screaming* lead that she lost 1.2 lengths last 200 despite winning. This was also seen via the 8th best last 600, the 7th best last 400, but just the 26th best last 200 of the day. Her PB to date is +4.1 when 2nd in the Everest and that could be eclipsed from here.

Subsequently: Winner Surround 28/02

Super return from the Derby winner smashed his previous PB's of -1.0 which he set 3 times from 1200 to 2500, as well as a luckless -1.2 in the Caulfield Guineas last spring. Brought his speed first up going +6.1 lengths above benchmark at the 800, before +1.6 in the mid race, and an understandable late gas out with -3.5. Note however he did rebound 1.3 lengths last 200 in isolation under full pressure when asked. Clearly turned up fit with just 98 days between runs and two quiet trials leading in, and with the Australian Guineas the short term target in 3 weeks. He should take a power of beating there.

Subsequently: Winner Australian Guineas 28/02

Won with the ease the deep odds on market expectations had her, and the cruisey nature of this race meant she couldn't have had a softer lead in to the Oaks. Stalked the leader going -2.5 at the 800 and matched it in the mid race with -2.4. Let down with +1.8 last 400 with "last bit best bit" +1.4 last 200 in isolation. Importantly the context of her lead speed, was she came from two "no pace" races here 04/10 and in the Thousand Guineas Caulfield going -10.0 and -8.8 first sections. That she has shown on several occasions in her short career and ability to relax and quicken says she'll take a power of beating.

Subsequently: Unplaced Oaks and spelled. First up winner Flemington 28/02

Beware the unlucky runner and this colt was certainly that, but he's virtually matched his best which was -1.0 length below benchmark twice at his first two starts, but did so "stuck" in a high pressure race shape going +8.5 lengths above benchmark at the 800 sitting 2nd line. That was the fastest he's gone to date in the first section by 5.4 lengths. +0.1 in the mid race before -9.6 last 400. Numbers aside he hit a severe "dead end" in the straight, so whatever he improves by from here, it should be significant. The Vase Moonee Valley over 2040 looks the natural progression from here.

Subsequently: Winner Vase Moonee Valley 25/10. Winner Derby 01/11

Ready! Came off a nothing run first up outclassed at $61 Listed level Caulfield, but 3 weeks later with a clear conditioning elevation has improved her IVR figure 2.4 lengths, beaten by the rock hard fit SWIFTIE HARRIET on wet ground and after having the negative of the inner barrier on the poor deteriorating track. -3.2 at the 800 was similar race to race early speed, but +2.7 in the mid race was where the sharp improvement came from. Last 400 was -4.0 with -3.0 of that just in the last 200. On firm ground she has closing speed between +5.5 and +7.6, and that says placed right she can win from here in similar. 

Subsequently: 2nd Caulfield Heath 20/12 at $16. Twice unplaced Geelong and Hobart before winner Cranbourne 27/02

Remains unbeaten making it four from four with this first up win, and has dragged his adjusted IVR best up from -2.4 in doing so. Stalked the lead going -3.6, before -6.5 in the mid race, but a big lift when asked out of the slowdown with -3.8 last 400. The last 200 was the 5th best of the day and that closing strength gets an extra tick given this was his first run out of the "1000 metre bubble" and he did so resuming. We look forward to seeing what he can do on clean ground as he works through the grades.

Subsequently: Winner Canterbury 27/02