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It was easy work for TAB Everest favourite Nature Strip to the eye in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes at Randwick on Saturday and the clock would back up that view.
He cruised around the 1000m in 56.66 which is well outside the course record set by Eduardo earlier this year with an official last 600m of 32.62 and that's quite reliable as he was in front at that stage.
All that suggests the race was a real sprint home and you don't beat Nature Strip in a sprint home after a run like he had in front.
Unfortunately we can't get an individual time as his chip didn't register but based on the race sectionals, with Nature Strip in front from around the 800m, he ran about 10.64 from the 600m-400m and 10.25 from the 400m-200m and his last 200m would be around the 11.70 mark, probably a bit under that – but they're not official.
Punter's Intelligence sectional data can tell us about those chasing Nature Strip.
Godolphin's Trekking clocked a slick last 600m of 32.39 and that would register as the fastest of the meeting as he finished third. He loomed as though he was going to go straight past Wild Ruler, running 10.39 from the 400m-200m.
The runner-up posted a last 600m of 32.58 and both he and Trekking ran 11.33 for the last 200m and both horses did their chances of making the TAB Everest field no harm.
Behind the placings, Handle The Truth appears on target for The Kosciuszko and he clocked a last 600m of 32.64 in finishing fourth first-up from a spell. And Standout might have run sixth but he recorded 10.35 from the 400m-200m among his last 600m of 32.49 so his return was sound.
Arguably the performance of the meeting came from Jamaea to win the Group 2 Darley Furious Stakes (1200m) from last on the turn.
The filly stormed home in 33.26 for her last 600m, about two lengths faster than the next best, and 11.42 for her last 200m (also two lengths superior). If she heads to the Tea Rose Stakes against the fillies she'll be tough to stop but could she be a smoky for the Group 1 Golden Rose?
Four Moves Ahead wasn't disgraced in finishing fifth, making her run along the inside, as she ran 33.56 for her last 600m so she's ready for the increase in distance and Mallory, who finished third, was the next quickest clocking 33.77 for her last 600m.
It was almost a perfect front-running ride from Rachel King on Riodini in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m). The first 800m of 49.36 set the race up for a sprint home in deteriorating conditions.
Riodini ran 12.29 from the 1000m-800m which was clearly the slowest for that section then stepped it up with 11.52 from the 800m-600m and sustained fairly similar sectionals before tiring late with a 12.11 for the last 200m.
To win the race Think It Over had to run 34.09 for his last 600m and he did it in the last bound.
The eye-catcher came from Montefilia who charged into third place with a 34.21 last 600m and a race best final 200m of 11.69 which says she's come back in great shape.
Mr Hussill had no favours with a wide gate in the TAB Highway (1200m) and had to concede a big start but he did his Kosciuszko selection chances no harm with a dominant last 600m of 34.77 as he flashed into second place.
He was the only horse to break 35 seconds in the race and he was two lengths faster than the next best. If he doesn't make The Kosciuszko field there's a Highway coming up with his name on it.
A few others to note: Shaik resumed with a slashing last 600m of 33.38 as she finished runner-up in the Vale Nini Vascotto (1100m), Bullfinch finished seventh in the ACY Securities Handicap (1200m) but posted a last 600m of 33.80 in a promising first-up effort and Atishu was hard to miss late in the Sharp Extensive IT Handicap (1500m) – she ran 34.01 for her last 600m and 11.76 for her last 200m which were both easily the race's best.
Fastest last 600m: Trekking 32.39
