A hidden trial, but after smashing the line here in her first trial 18/08 with the 3rd best last 200 of the session, this 2nd one strongly suggests this high class sprinting mare will be a "player" in quality sprints this time in and should not be underestimated when she returns to the races. Asked to "do nothing" under a big hold from McDonald settling 4.3 lengths from the lead, but her 200 increments showed +1.1, +0.9, -0.8 and +3.1. That says a 1.7 length slow down from the 400 to 200, before an electric 3.9 length turn of foot late. She won first up last prep with +0.8, and has a fully franked +7 range last 400 close. Stand by!

Subsequently: 2nd up Caulfield Group 2 placing before winner Flemington 31/10

Ready! Big closing mare who's reeled off the "picket fence" of the best last 800, 600, 400 and 200 of the day chasing the old warrior JIGSAW hard, and matched her best of last prep in doing so overall. -0.7 lengths below benchmark at the 800 when 2.7 lengths from the leader/winner, before +2.7 in the mid race and +4.2 last 400. Ran 2nd Derby Day last year over 1100 when +0.1 in her first Melbourne run which included a blistering +7.5 last 400. Her asset is straight line speed and retuning to that race looks ideal, and she should be very hard to stop from going one better this year. 

Subsequently: Winner Flemington 31/10

An outstanding win to go with a freak ride, pushing her PB from +4.1 set Rosehill March 2025 over 1500, yet there's a strong case to be made that it could have been better due to a slowdown in traffic. +8.9 at the 800 was the fastest she's ever gone in the first section, yet she was 5 lengths from the lead. Closed with +3.5 and -0.4, but the micro-split showed a 1.3 length slowdown from the 400 to 200, before a half length rebound over the last 200 when clear. The Empire Rose and/or Champions Mile Melbourne Cup week look logical next steps. 

Subsequently: Winner Empire Rose 31/10

Just crushing his rivals backing up his +2.0 best of the day a fortnight back over 1300, to extending his PB further leading throughout. -0.3, +0.1 and +3.0 was the perfect display of efficiency from both horse and rider. At time of writing will return to 1300 in 3 weeks time in the Silver Eagle and if he maintains this level will probably win again.

Subsequently: 2nd Randwick Silver Eagle 17/10 then winner Randwick Golden Eagle 31/10

Is this the Spring Champion "Grand Final" runner? 3rd at Group 1 mile level to TRON BOLT in his first prep Eagle Farm 13/06, and resumed with a sound 2nd 12/09 producing -2.6 lengths below benchmark. There he suffered a big 7.4 length slowdown. Then had two contrasting race shapes. Run off his feet in the brutal Golden Rose where going +6.6 lengths above benchmark at the 800 - the clear fastest of his career - still had him 7 lengths from the lead. Here -13.9 was 20.5 lengths slower first section! +1.7 and +6.2 last two sections with an excellent Ground Made up 7.7 length figure. Now has the grounding to peak at 2000.

Subsequently: 4th Spring Champion 24/10 then winner VRC Derby 31/10

A modest IVR figure to include, but it's right in the current range of the Melbourne 3yo Derby form as he heads south, and his 3 previous runs were all in the -2.6 to -2.0 range which puts him above them were he to take that level south. Race to race despite settling at the rear of the field he had to go 12 lengths faster first section from a fortnight earlier at Rosehill. -1.7 lengths below benchmark at the 800, before +0.2 in the mid race and -0.8 last 400. Despite the significantly increased exertion, his ground made up figure was still a strong 3.6 lengths after 7.7 lengths in the Gloaming. Looks a key player next Saturday.

Subsequently: Winner VRC Derby Flemington 31/10

First up 2nd prep Bjorn Baker and with another dynamic win to kick off after +1.4 at Randwick last September. here -0.9 stalking the leaders, before +2.4 in the mid race and +1.9 last 400. Did drop away a length over the last 200 which strongly suggests he can continue his pattern from last time in when 3rd to rising superstar AUTUMN GLOW in the Epsom with +3.4. He was 4 weeks between runs there and at time of posting is returning to Sydney to presumably be kept fresh again. He's going as well as he has at any stage of his career and deserves continued respect in elite races going forward.

REPOST AFTER $3 MILLION RUSSELL BALDING WIN RANDWICK 31/10

Ended his 2yo season as a very promising colt with two wins at -0.9 and -2.0 level, but with blistering ground made up figures of +7.0 and +5.1, and has returned at a serious level that says he's a group 1 winner in time with ordinary luck. His 3 sections were -5.5 (when 4 lengths from the lead) before -3.9 and +0.4 including last bit best bit +1.1 last 200 in isolation. The "picket fence" of the best last 800, 600, 400 and 200 of the day said he turned up fit, and the Coolmore looks an obvious next step where he should take a power of beating. (The current unknown is his speed if on firm ground.)

Subsequently: Winner Coolmore 31/10

Lightly raced mare eligible for a very basic benchmark race on resuming and is ready to return to the races a winner if her two trials are taken at face value, with her 2nd a fortnight earlier the 3rd best of the session with -2.0. Here top 8 and very solid when asked. -10.2 at the 800 was a soft tempo, before +0.4 in the mid race and -2.4 last 400. That means a solid 10.6 length mid race squeeze, and she gassed out 0.8 of a length last 200. Her PB to date is -2.5 when 5th best of the day at Kembla in February, and her Illawarra win 05/05 while only -4.0 was 3rd best of the day. More to come this time in as clearly stronger.

Subsequently: Winner Kenso 07/10 at $11 then winner Randwick 31/10

Three starts and yet to see a race of pressure, but this performance sets her up as a genuine live chance in the Thousand Guineas, with blistering closing speed and excellent Ground Made Up figures. -8.9 at the 800 at the rear of the field 6.3 lengths from the lead, before +2.7 from the 800 to 400 meaning an 11.6 length mid race squeeze. That she sustained it with +4.7 last 400 is an excellent sign stepping from a "barrier trial" tempo 1200 first up at 1200 to 1440 here. 4th best last 600 of the meeting, after the best last 400 and 200 on debut, and 3rd best last 600 and 200 resuming 09/09. More to come!

Subsequently: 3rd Thousand Guineas before winner Derby Day Flemington 31/10

This horse has turned into a mini-PRIDE OF JENNI! We sizzled him two starts back when +2.0 lengths above benchmark ranked 2nd on the day over 1800, and here he's just hung on out to 2000, but after a blistering first split of +10.2 lengths above benchmark. Understandably tapered from there with -0.7 and -6.7 last two sections, and is near certain to "feel" this run. However with ideally 3-5 weeks between runs, this level can see him remain very hard to get past as he makes the chasers feel pain! There's a similar class 1850 at the Newcastle standalone day 14/11 which looks ideal.

Subsequently: Winner Randwick 24/10

Excellent trial with just one prep to date and is now gelded. -9.1 at the 800, before +3.8 and +2.5 last two sections peaking on his run late losing 0.6 of a length over the last 200. This was also seen via the 2nd best last 800, the 3rd best last 600 and 400, but the 12th best last 200 of the day. Won at Muswellbrook with -3.9 ranked 3rd of the 1st of May meeting, before starting favourite and failing Gosford. Should return at a brand new level.

Subsequently: Winner Kembla 24/10