Morton’s Fork Shows His Quality In Overcoming Pedestrian Early Tempo To Win Sandown Guineas
Ridden patiently by Craig Williams, Morton’s Fork remained in eighth place, and the colt looked to be facing a hard task in making ground from that far back after the leaders had clocked only 1:07.51 seconds for the first 1000 metres of the race.
A time of 1:07.51 represents a 200 metre rate of only 13.41, and to illustrate just how moderate that was Qewy’s (Street Cry) 200 metre rate for the first 2200 metres of the Sandown Cup (Listed, 3200m) was only slightly slower at 13.46.
Yet Morton’s Fork was able to produce a brilliant sprint, continuing his wide move to improve on passing the 600 metres, to grab the lead in the closing stages and score by a short head.
Timed from the 600 metres, Morton’s Fork produced 200 metre sections of 10.87, 10.59 (400m in 21.46) and 10.99 to give him outstanding last 600 metre time of 32.45.
Morton’s Fork had been somewhat underrated until now, Saturday being his first Group win in a consistent record of four wins in nine starts, having only missing a place once.
His win also confirmed the form of the Chris Waller-trained half-brother to Criterion (Sebring), Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock) who defeated Morton’s Fork at his prior start in the Carbine Club Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) at Flemington on Derby Day.
As highlighted earlier, Godolphin’s Irish-bred stayer Qewy was able to set a very moderate pace prior to winning the Sandown Cup, which is run over the Melbourne Cup distance of 3200 metres.
A steady tempo is not unexpected over that more testing distance but Qewy did produce surprisingly fast closing times in holding on to win narrowly but gamely under his 58.5 kilograms top weight – conceding 4.5 kilograms to seven rivals.
Qewy, well rated by experienced and in-form jockey Kerrin McEvoy, was timed to run his 1000 metres in 57.77, last 800 metres in 45.41, last 600 metres in 33.44, last 400 metres in 22.21 with his final 200 metres in 11.32.
Those closing sectionals being clearly superior to the winner of the Zipping Classic (Gr 2, 2400m) later in the program where another Godolphin runner Beautiful Romance (New Approach) won in a deceptive photo finish by a short half head from Almoonqith (Dynaformer).
Beautiful Romance was timed to run her last 1000 metres in 59.02, 47.45 (last 800m), 35.36 (last 600m), 23.61 (last 400m) with her final 200 metres in 12.02.
In the weight-for-age Kevin Heffernan Stakes (Gr 3, 1300m), the Darren Weir-trained Lucky Hussler (Husson) produced fast closing times in coming from back in eighth place at the 1000 metres to score his sixth Group win, albeit by a short head.
Lucky Hussler was timed to run his final 1000 metres in a fast 55.46 with his last 800 metres in 44.36, last 600 metres in 32.77, last 400 metres in 21.80 with his final 200 metres in 11.24 – all fast closing times.
In the Doveton Stakes (Listed, 1000m) the Patrick Payne-trained gelding Husson Eagle (Husson), scored a good first-up win, his first at stakes level in 19 starts to date.
Well ridden by Payne’s sister Michelle, Husson Eagle ran on from sixth at the 800 metres to win by just over a length, clocking a fast 56.33 for the 1000 metre distance.
Husson Eagle also produced fast closing fractions, with his last 800 metres in 42.34, last 600 metres in 31.85, last 400 metres in 21.27 with his final 200 metres in 10.95.
His times also confirmed the excellent performance of the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained filly Arctic Angel (Hard Spun) who showed great pace in an all-the-way win in the Merson Cooper Stakes (Listed, 1000m) for two-year-olds.
Having only her second race start, Arctic Angel clocked exactly the same time as Husson Eagle’s 56.33 in winning against open class sprinters in the Doveton Stakes, quite an achievement.
Arctic Angel’s closing sectionals were also impressive with her last 800 metres in 42.99, last 600 metres in 32.70, last 400 metres in 22.09 with her final 200 metres in 11.51.
The runner-up, the Tony McEvoy-trained colt Mikuni (Casino Prince) also impressed on the watch in coming from back in 11th place at the 800 metres to finish just under two lengths from the winner.
Mikuni was timed to run his last 800 metres in 42.81, last 600 metres in 32.52, last 400 metres in 21.96 with his final 200 metres in 11.36.
Another noteworthy effort by a two-year-old on Saturday, was the effort of the Godolphin-raced colt Veranillo (Medaglia d’Oro) in taking out the Funland Australia Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill.
After racing close to a fast pace, Veranillo took a clear lead halfway down the straight and took the eye in the closing stages, appearing to score with something in hand by a length despite his taxing early efforts.
Veranillo, clocked from the 1000 metres, ran 200 metre sections of 10.65, 11.00 (400m in 21.65), 11.41 (600m in 33.06), 11.82 (800m in 44.88) with his final 200 metres in 12.55 to give him a quick last 1000 metres of 57.43.
The Team Hawkes-trained colt Groundbreak (All Too Hard) deserves mention. Also racing on debut, he was last in the seven-horse field to the home turn and did well in running on to finish second, clocking a slightly fast 1000 metres of 57.31.