3 minute read

Trainer Joe Pride is a master at improving tried horses when they enter his stable, and six-year-old Mariamia fits that bill.

The mare produced a career peak figure first-up this prep, and she stepped off that performance again on Saturday at Rosehill Gardens to win the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m).

The race was run at a genuine tempo, with Punter's Intelligence recording the leader Kahawaty running the first 600m in 34.67.

To put that into perspective, that was 4.5 lengths quicker than the Benchmark 88 Schweppes Handicap (1200m).

Mariamia stalked the pace, and when Tim Clark asked her for a superior effort, she responded immediately.

Moreover, she clocked the fastest final 200m split of the race in 11.40 and maintained a solid finishing speed to the line.

She has a strong platform, and expect her to be competitive in all her upcoming targets.

Group 1 winning colt Golden Mile returned well and ran the race quickest 600m-200m split in 22.11 before peaking on his run over the final furlong.

The Godolphin galloper will derive immense benefit from that run because it was such a high-pressure event from the onset.

Nicolini Vito and Pizarro both ran well under the WFA conditions, and watch for them when they drop back to benchmark grade.

There was plenty of hype surrounding the two-year-old races, and the fillies ran quicker time than the colts.

Debutante Learning To Fly won the Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m) and clocked 1:03.30 for her overall time.

That time was approximately 2 lengths quicker than the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m), and the margins throughout confirmed the quality of the race.

The Annabel Neasham trained galloper put her hand up as a genuine Golden Slipper contender posting a solid figure, and her performance was brave.

Additionally, she is a nice type and indicates she may be even better when ridden with cover from a soft draw.

Steel City backed up her first-up performance by running the second-fastest final 600m of the race in 33.28, and she beat the rest easily.

Mumbai Muse was fantastic after getting too far back due to being restrained early from a wide draw.

She clocked the race clear quickest final 600m in 33.14 and can settle closer from a softer gate next start.

Cigar Flick exerted too much energy between the 800m-200m recording 32.69 for that split which was the race's fastest, and she just peaked on her run late.

Although the Canonbury ran a slower overall time, they zipped home a quicker final 600m, and the race must be bonused for that.

Red Resistance was well rated in front by Jockey Brett Prebble, but he showed late strength and ran the race's fastest final 200m in 11.29.

Hot pot King's Gambit was sent out a $1.28 favourite, and although he performed below market expectations, the colt was honest.

He ran the race's quickest final 600m in 33.32, and in typical Peter & Paul Snowden fashion, he will continue progressing as he nears his grand finals.

It's worth noting Think About It who made it back-to-back wins this campaign, but the run of Super Pursuit was full of merit in the Chandon Handicap (1350m).

He had too much to do with the pace/bias against him, and he ran on hard into third placing even with 60kg after the claim.

Further, he ran the second-fastest final 600m of the meeting in 33.05. Follow.

Fastest last 600m: Eastern Glow 33.04