3 minute read

Just how did Mr Mosaic get off the canvas and win at Rosehill on Saturday when everything about the race said he should have cracked.

Punter's Intelligence sectional data showed the gelding ran a slick 33.55 for his last 600m but in the context of the race that was the second slowest in the Guildford Leagues Handicap (1100m).

The slowest was run by Marway (34.76) which was the horse Mr Mosaic duelled with into the home straight. Marway weakened to run last while Mr Mosaic managed to keep going.

They broke 30 seconds for the first 500m, running 29.69, and their 800m-600m section was run significantly faster than the rest of the field – Mr Mosaic clocking 10.86 individually and Marway 10.89.

The difference was apparent in the second half of the race as they finally backed it off. Mr Mosaic was able to pick up again while Marway couldn't. He ran 11.32 from the 600m-400m then 11.02 from the 400m-200m (Marway 11.27 & 11.36).

Then he sustained it, running his last 200m in 11.21 which was only 0.11 outside the race's best.

The fastest last 600m of the race (and meeting) was posted by On The Lead who ran a full second faster (six lengths) than the winner, clocking 32.55, and that final 200m of 11.10.

It might also be worth forgiving I Am Power, who ran sixth after being slowly away. He ran the fastest 600m-400m (10.69) and 400m-200m (10.64) before blowing out last with 11.43 for his last 600m.

Mr Mosaic is now four from four when first-up and while he only had 51kg it'll be interesting to see if this performance takes anything out of him next time.

Shihonka also produced a gutsy on pace performance in winning the Cabra-Vale Diggers Handicap (1350m) after working hard early.

She ran two lengths faster than anything else in the race between the 1200m-1000m (10.99) to find the lead then Tim Clark managed to back off for the next 400m.

Her last 600m of 34.33 suggests there wasn't a lot left in the tank after the early work but enough to hold off the fast finishing Saigon who posted a race best 33.51 and easily the fastest last 200m of 11.22.

Fourth placed Amica worked home nicely into fourth running 33.52 for her last 200m.

Arctic Thunder kept her unbeaten first-up record intact with a last stride win in the Midway Handicap (1300m) and it required a race best sectional to do it.

She clocked 33.06 for her last 600m, which included a sizzling 10.70 from the 400m-200m.

After blowing the start off a wide gate Black Duke was next best with 33.13 for his last 600m, so his performance had some merit.

Imported galloper Huetor again impressed as he backed up his first-up win at Newcastle with a last to first success in the Cabra Bowls Handicap (2000m).

His last 600m of 33.83 was clearly the fastest of the race, by two lengths, and he really had to stretch late running 10.99 from the 400m-200m and a last 200m of 11.16. The latter was a length faster than anything else.

He likely goes to the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) later this month.

Brutality warmed up nicely for this weekend's Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) with a 33.29 last 600m in the Bankstown Sports Club Handicap over 1400m.

His last 200m of 11.24 was a length faster than the next best and he'll drop in weight for the Villiers, if he strikes a wet track he can be dangerous.

Tamerlane wrapped up the day with an eye-catching first-up second in the Smithfield RSL Sprint (1200m) where he clocked the fastest splits from the 800m to the post.

His last 600m of 33.29 was four lengths faster than the next best in the race and his last 200m of 11.27 was two lengths quicker.

While his second-up record isn't as good as his fresh stats he's raced on speed in both attempts to date whereas his best efforts are becoming when he's able to launch from off the pace.