Kenedna Runs Strong Sectional Times In Winning Saturday’s Australasian Oaks Lead Up
After easing from her wide barrier (14), Kenedna settled back in 12th place in the large 17-horse field before improving between runners on passing the 600 metres but she was then held up for clear running.
Jockey John Allen got an opening at the 150 metres, where Kenedna sprinted quickly and soon dashed clear before going on to score impressively by a length and three quarters from With A Big Of Dash (Dash For Cash) with Sebring Dream (Sebring) making good ground for third, a length further back.
Official time for the 1800 metre journey was 1:50.52 (12.28 200m rate) with the first 1200 metres clocking 1:14.39 (12.39 200m rate) with the final 600 metres in 36.13 (12.04 200m), solid times on the Good 4 track.
But it was Kenedna’s sectional times that really took the eye. She was timed to run 1:35.42 (last 1600m), 1:23.51 (last 1400m), 1:11.88 (last 1200m), 59.61 (last 1000m), 47.77 (last 800m), 35.64 (last 600m), 23.75 (last 400m) with her final 200 metres in 11.76.
Kenedna is now the winner of three of her last four starts, all at stakes level, firstly winning The Vanity (Gr 3, 1400m) at Flemington on 18 February and then the Laelia Stakes (Listed, 1600m) at Morphettville on 8 April, prior to taking out Saturday’s Auraria Stakes.
Another filly expected to head to Morphettville on Saturday week for the Australasian Oaks is the Chris Waller-trained Egg Tart (Sebring) who impressed in taking out the Auckland Racing Club Trophy, 3YO (1600m) at Flemington on Anzac Day.
Ridden by Damien Oliver, Egg Tart travelled well in seventh place on the rails, before angling into clear running on turning for home. She then came with a strong run and after taking the lead at the 200 metre, she raced away to win easily by two and three quarter lengths.
Time for the 1600 metre journey was 1:39.76 on the Heavy 8 track with Egg Tart returning good sectional times in the conditions with her final 1000 metres in 1:00.36, last 800 metres in 48.10, last 600 metres in 36.07 with her final 400 metres in 24.47.
Egg Tart is striking form at the right time, taking out a Maiden Handicap, 3YO (1550m) at Canterbury on 30 November prior to a let up and is now unbeaten in all three runs this preparation.
Another to impress at Flemington was the Ciaron Maher-trained colt Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock) who is now unbeaten in three starts after taking out the Anzac Day Stakes (Listed, 1400m).
He settled particularly well back in sixth place, behind a steady tempo on the Soft 7 track before commencing his move nearing the home turn. Merchant Navy then sprinted quickly, hit the front at the 200 metres before going on to score comfortably by a length from the Greg Eurell-trained Casino Fourteen (Casino Prince).
Merchant Navy’s time for the 1400 metre distance was 1:26.87 in the affected conditions with his closing sectional times proving quite impressive, clocking 34.26 for his last 600 metres and 22.83 for his final 400 metres.
He looks a quality colt with a bright future.
The principal race over last weekend’s racing was the running of the postponed Sydney Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) at Randwick on Saturday with victory going to the Godolphin-raced import Polarisation (Echo Of Light).
Having his first start since racing at Doncaster in September last year, trainer Charlie Appleby produced a very fit Polarisation for his Australian debut over 3200 metres and racing on a Heavy 8 track, a daunting challenge which emphasised his undoubted training skills.
After tracking a fast mid-race pace set by Lasqueti Spirit (Beneteau), well back in fifth place, Polarisation dug deep under his limit weight (51.kg) after taking the lead at the home turn to score gamely by a short neck from the top weight (57kg) Who Shot Thebarman (Yamanin Vital).
A half length further back was the favourite, the Darren Weir-trained Irish-bred import Big Duke (Raven’s Pass) ran on solidly under Glen Boss for third.
Time for the 3200 metre staying test was 3:29.16 (13.07 200m rate) on the Heavy 8 track with the first 2600 metres being run in 2:51.14 (13.16 200m rate) and the final 600 metres in 38.02 (12.67 200m rate).
The closing sectional times of the placegetters proved interesting.
Polarisation clocked 1:02.78 (last 1000m), 50.02 (last 800m), 37.65 (last 600m) with his final 400 metres in 25.34.
Who Shot Thebarman clocked 1:02.58 (last 1000m), 49.92 (last 800m), 37.20 (last 600m) with his final 400 metres in 24.32.
While the third-placed Big Duke ran the fastest closing sectional times of the race for the last 1000 metres (1:01.83), last 800 metres (49.62), last 600 metres (37.41) and 400 metres (24.93).
Last word this week has been reserved for the Alice Springs-trained sprinter Desert Lashes (Reward For Effort) who is now unbeaten after eight starts after taking out the Redelva Stakes (Listed, 1100m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
She was quickly away, went straight to the front and then settled nicely in the lead, before dashing clear on turning for home and then winning comfortably by two and a quarter lengths.
Time for the 1100 metre journey on a Good 4 track, was 1:03.71 (11.58 200m rate), equivalent to 1200 metres.
Desert Lashes returned impressive closing sectional times with her last 1000 metres in 55.51, last 800 metres in 44.72, last 600 metres in 33.61 with her final 400 metres in 22.39.
The Lisa Lefoe prepared three-year-old filly won her first five starts at her home track at Alice Springs before winning a Benchmark 70, 3YO (1200m) at Morphettville on 10 December and a Three-Year-Old Handicap over 1100 metres at the same track when resuming on 8 April.
Lefoe has now indicated that Desert Lashes will have her next start in the Euclase Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday week in a bid to take her unbeaten record to nine, stepping up further from Saturday’s impressive Listed win to Group Two level.