3 minute read

Jockey Dylan Gibbons stole the show at Royal Randwick on Saturday, riding four winners, including Ucalledit in the feature Winter Stakes (1400m).

King Of Hastings led the field up at a moderate tempo running the first 800m in 47.81.

Gibbons gave the Kris Lees galloper every chance throughout transit, and his final furlong was strong, with him clocking the race's fastest final 200m in 11.39.

Further, he recorded 1:22.07 for the overall time, which rated solidly against the day after adjusting for age, class and additional factors.

Stablemate Acquitted should've finished closer but was checked at a critical stage but picked up well and ran the third quickest final 600m of the race in 33.61.

Barbie's Fox was well fancied throughout the week in betting and arguably should've won.
The six-year-old showed a sharp turn of the foot between the 600m-200m in 21.86, approximately 1.5-2 lengths faster than the race's following best.

Moreover, she was blocked for a run over the final 200m and went through the line not tested.

Insurrection has gone from strength to strength this campaign, and the gelding did it on both ends to score in the Benchmark 78 event over 1100m.

The gelding always faced the breeze in a genuine tempo and put his rivals away, running the tenth fastest final 200m split for the meeting.

To further the merit of his performance, his overall time in 1:02.67 was approximately 11 lengths faster than the two-year-old handicap (1100m) and 3 lengths faster than a direct comparison to the Fillies/Mares Benchmark 78 (1100m).

Continue to follow him as he progresses through the grades.

Brudenell was honest in defeat and Wategos returned well.

So Good So Cool and Huon were the sectional stars out of the race and ran some of the fastest closing splits of the day.

So Good So Cool had excuses and still reeled off the third-quickest final 600m in 32.99, whilst Huon was the second fastest in 32.94.

A quick mention of Custodian, who was extremely well backed, and his starting price must be respected moving forward.

Cigar Flick has come back improved, and she returned in style to win the opening event over 1100m for two-year-olds.

As referenced, the race was run at a farcical tempo, and the filly was blocked for most of the straight, but once a gap appeared, she surged to the line.

The Chris Waller trained galloper clocked the fastest final 200m section of the day in 11.11 and went through the line full of energy. She will be set for the Princess series and can step off this performance.

Missile Defence was a solid debut and built through his gears well and ran the entire meetings fastest, final 600m in 32.91. He will benefit from the race experience and be more suited to a genuine tempo over more ground.

It's worth noting Manbehindthemoney, who showed adaptability and ran his rivals ragged to score in the Benchmark 78 event over 2000m.

Super Bright and Amathuba can be followed from a sectional perspective after both of their runs had merit in the Midway Handicap (1200m).

Super Bright ran on hard to finish second, clocking 11.14 for her final 200m, and she beat the rest easily.

Amathuba had to be restrained from a wide draw, had the pace/bias against her and still recorded the eighth-fastest final 600m in 33.10. Watch for her next start with a more positive race setup.

Fastest last 600m: Missile Defence 32.91

Watch Punter's Intelligence with Ben Way, Brad Gray and Nick Berney at 7pm on Tuesdays on Sky Thoroughbred Central.