Ready! Super elevation from just -4.7 on the quirky Caulfield Heath track, and a new PB from -1.0 from her 2nd career start Bendigo 2023. At the 800 was midfield going -0.7 spotting the leader/winner 5.5 lengths. +3.2 in the mid race before -0.7 last 400. Did lose a length over the last 200 as the chase told only 2nd up, but note ran the best last 1200 and 1000 of the day. Has tactical versatility winning twice as a leader, but has three times ran a closing 400 between +7.5 and +9.1. Caulfield BM78 staying at 1400 on January 31 from here???

Subsequently: Winner Pakenham 23/01 and winner Flemington 14/02

The rising superstar of Australian racing who continued her unbeaten streak in contrasting conditions in this Golden Eagle to her Epsom win when +4.9 lengths above benchmark on a good track. Here in soft conditions on the "quirky" (for this track) 1500 distance, found a "fast and legless" race shape, going +8.1 lengths above benchmark yet sitting 3rd line. -5.8 and -8.7 last two sections, but holding her line over the last two x 200 splits. She's confirmed her "swimmer" tag with a wet track indicator of +12.1 and unlike first up (+13.2) which was just 1100, did so into a middle distance range.

Subsequently: Winner first up Randwick 14/02

Let's cut to the chase: This was a big statement from a colt going places! First up 2nd prep with a previous PB of +1.1 lengths above benchmark set when winning a Group 3 here over 1400 last September at his 5th career start. To return smashing that says he's got elite stakes race potential. Relaxed going -3.6 at the 800 when 5 lengths from the lead. +0.2 in the mid race, before a +5.8 last 400 "explosion" racing away. Also produced the "picket fence" of the best last 800, 600, 400 and 200 of the day showing he turned up fit despite 126 days away. Trainer has indicated Australian Guineas is the target. Deserves great respect!

Subsequently: Winner CS Hayes Flemington 14/02

Turned up set for the Coolmore Grand Final with +0.8 here when 3rd Turnbull Stakes day 04/10 and -0.1 Caulfield Cup day when exploding with the 5th best last 400 of the day, and has left with the tag of the most promising sprinter in Australia. Found a high pressure race shape where his benchmark speed at the 800 had him 3 lengths from the lead, before +2.8 in the mid race and +5.7 last 400. However note such was the heat up front, that he actually tapered late losing 1.4 lengths last 200 in isolation. This is also seen via the 3rd best last 800, but the 30th best last 200 of the day.

Subsequently: First up winner Lightning Stakes 14/02

We sizzled him from his first up +0.8 at Flemington, and while he dipped IVR wise, note he's gone from the 13th to the 10th ranked on the day on much softer track, and was very strong late when asked. -4.9 at the 800, before +0.8 in the mid race and +4.2 last 400, with last bit best bit +3.0 last 200 in isolation. He's clearly set to peak in the Coolmore, and showed in his Randwick win 08/03 and ability to produce and sustain an excellent late close. On that occasion his combined last two splits were +11.2 and he's a stronger colt now. Likely to be very competitive in the Group 1 grand final. 

Subsequently: Winner Coolmore 01/11. First up winner Lightning 14/02

With the obvious caveat that he's a 7yo with a few issues and lover of wet tracks, but on clean ground he couldn't have returned any better. -6.1 at the 800 sitting midfield, before +2.7 in the mid race and +3.4 last 400 showing the sustained nature of the close. This was also seen via the 6th best last 800 and the best last 600 of the day. He produced +0.5 first up last prep but on his preferred slow going winning at Rosehill, and when right is very consistent in the benchmark range. If he stays healthy/sound he should be able to find a win very soon this time in. 

Subsequently: Winner Eagle Farm 14/02 at $5

Stunning return from this 5yo mare who's already a 3 time Group 1 winner, smashing not only her previous first up PB of +2.7, but her all time PB of +3.2 set when 2nd to JIMMYSSTAR in the All Aged here April. -3.9 at the 800, before +3.8 in the mid race and +6.6 last 400. A combined +10.4 last 800 off a good speed is serious high quality heat. Her challenge into an Everest is still how she could go in a brutal tempo sprint which to date has been her Kryptonite and is the asset of Hong Kong star KA YING RISING. Most years this figure would be good enough. It's likely to be well short this year so improvement is still required. 

REPOST: First up winner again Randwick 14/02

Missed the place at single figure odds, but the run should not be underestimated producing a new PB from -1.1 lengths below benchmark when 2nd to 2yo filly TEMPTED Randwick 12/04. Importantly she showed excellent sustained speed being above benchmark in each of the 3 sections albeit on firm ground. +1.1 lengths above benchmark at the 800, +0.5 in the mid race and +0.5 last 400. Clearly that said she turned up pretty fit - a logical assumption with the big $ on offer - so she should be able to hold it 2nd up. Looks to be a player in early season 3yo stakes races in Sydney.

Subsequently: Winner Group 2 Light Fingers Randwick 14/02

Obviously "job done" in winning his local Cup for the 2nd consecutive year, but it was a dominant clear best of the day performance. -3.7 lengths below benchmark at the 800, but 8.4 lengths from leaders who were (ridiculously!) overdoing it. Produced a big 11.6 length squeeze in the best part of the track from the 800 to 400 going +7.8, before -0.7 last 400. He's matched his figure from last year which was on firm ground. Whether there's another run or a spell (more likely) from here is an unknown, but he's the ideal "just below elite" stayer who's rarely far away.

Subsequently: Freshened and unplaced Flemington 17/01 then 3rd Caulfield 07/02 before winning Flemington 14/02

Excellent return off a 91 day short spell and is now ready to match his +1.6 when winning at Flemington 13/09. Settled 7.7 lengths from the leader/winner REGAL ZEUS going -3.0 lengths below benchmark at the 800, before +4.2 in the mid race so a very strong 7.2 length squeeze. That saw him out with +3.5 last 400, losing 1.5 length over the last 200 in isolation. He's always been best at big tracks be it Randwick when Sydney based or Flemington, so a return to that track looks ideal from here. 

Subsequently: Winner Flemington 14/02

6th run for the prep which we're normally wary of, but after a very solid +0.8 Randwick 04/10 in winning, he found traffic there a fortnight later, while here a totally unsuitable slow tempo race shape. -6.1 at the 800, before "barely moving" going -2.4 in the mid race. His +8.2 with a booming +5.4 last 200 said he couldn't have gone much better, and that last 200 was the best of his 32 start career. Backs up Saturday and looks very well placed.

Subsequently: Unplaced Flemington 08/11 then winner Standish Flemington 10/01

Disappointed the market when unplaced at odds on, and we have "apples to apples" comparison why. Started very short due to her blistering track/distance win 21/06 when +1.4 lengths above benchmark ranked best of the day, but there the first section was -1.4 lengths below benchmark at the 800. Here +3.0 so 4.4 lengths faster first 300 off a standing start! +0.7 in the mid race and that saw her out. -1.4 last 400 with -1.1 last 200 in isolation gassing out 0.8 of a length last 200 in isolation with the 70 days between runs no doubt also a factor. Can rebound hard from here, and would be very wary of writing off!

Subsequently: 3rd Flemington 04/10 and spelled. First up winner Caulfield Heath 09/02