3 minute read
The race to be crowned the best two-year-old in Australia was all over on Slipper day, but who leads the charge in the West?
The Group 2 Karrakatta Plate is usually your best starting point, with the unbeaten Ima Single Man taking the honours from subsequent WA Sires' Produce winner Watch Me Dance.
Boom colt Gemma's Son tasted his first defeat in the event, finishing fourth as the $1.50 favourite.
Rated 101 by Timeform, Ima Single Man currently heads the leaderboard in Perth, though with only a length separating the first four across the line in both the Karrakatta Plate and Sires' Produce, you can be excused looking for different form.
2YO Timeform Leaderboard In Perth
Ima Single Man - 101
Dark Assault - 100
Gemma's Son - 99
Dom To Shoot - 99
Watch Me Dance - 96
The second wave of two-year-olds is where I want to focus as while the above are rated higher, when assessing time figures (adjusted for sectionals), these select few aren't far off, if not superior.
The Team Casey trained Charleton Eddie has only tasted defeat once in his five starts which came on debut, finishing third behind Gemma's Son.
Too sharp breaking his maiden status just 11 days later, he then won his next two starts by 5.3L, his effort over 1200m was very impressive, the clock backed up the visuals.
Off his peak prior to a break when only winning narrowly he went to the paddock rated 95 by Timeform with a '+' attached to his name.
On Saturday we saw debutant Reign Of Fire give them a caning in the third event and much like Charleton Eddie, the clocked backed up the visuals.
Whichever way you slice it and dice it, he went fast, very fast.
Rated 93+ by Timeform he is one of only a handful of 2YOs to record a time figure >90 this season and he did it on debut.
While ratings for 2YOs are more volatile than most (very few data points), fellow Saturday winners Kay Cee, Showmanship and Western Pride all point to Reign Of Fire being top drawer, you have a lot more confidence comparing what you deem to be fast to established fast.
Likely to have one more start before being turned out, really can't wait to get another look at him, he could be the best 2YO in Perth.
Another two-year-old which may have snuck under the radar is the Team Williams trained Real Grace.
Well supported on debut she got run off her feet over 1000m, before blitzing them at Pinjarra at her next start over 1200m.
Rated 80+ by Timeform, she has a fair way to go to reach the level of the above mentioned, however she has a 5.8L winning margin up her sleeve and a time figure >85.
She's in the right stable and very interested to see where she lands next preparation, out of WA Oaks placegetter Real Charm, she should be better over further.
