Progressive colt Czarson records fast sectional times in impressive Rosehill victory
After a quick beginning, Czarson went straight to the front and really lifted the tempo from the 600 metres before running out to score comfortably by two-lengths from the Godolphin-raced filly Kiamichi (Sidestep), a winner of her only prior start, in the Two-Year-Old Handicap (1200m).
Time for the 1200 metre journey was a smart 1:10.09, with Czarson’s 200 metre breakdown revealing the full merit of his effort on the watch.
Clocked from the 1000 metres, Czarson ran: 11.34, 11.52 (400m in 22.86), 10.87, (600m in 33.73), 10.88 (800m in 44.61) and 11.66 to give the colt a quick final 1000 metre time of 56.27.
A feature of that breakdown was Czarson’s acceleration upon reaching the 600 metres – 10.87 and 10.88 giving him a fast 400 metre time of 21.75 (600m to the 200m).
He then came home the final 200 metres in 11.66 for an impressive last 600 metre time of 33.41.
The progressive colt was having his first start at a metropolitan track having won decisively on debut in a two-year-old maiden (1000m) at Gosford on November 24.
And a strong form pointer was the fact that the runner-up in that race at Gosford was Exhilarates (Snitzel) who subsequently ran a bold race when second to Czarson’s stablemate Unite And Conquer (Hinchinbrook) in the Wyong Magic Millions, 2YO Classic (RL, 1100) on Wednesday.
In the following race at Rosehill, the Benchmark 78 Three-Year-Old Handicap (1400m), the Chris Waller-trained filly Zalatte (Medaglia D’Oro) stamped herself as a quality filly with Group potential over longer distances with an impressive late-closing win.
Zalatte was a winner on debut in a three-year-old maiden (1250m) at the Kensington track on November 22 when she took the eye, also coming with a late bid to score – Saturday’s effort was a further step up and she also produced fast sectionals.
Again ridden quietly, Zalatte remained in second last place in the seven-horse field before hitting the line strongly in the final stages to defeat the favourite Baller (High Chaparral), a winner of two of his only three prior starts, by a length in the time of 1:22.13.
Zalatte’s closing sectionals were particularly good with her last 400 metres in 22.28, last 600 metres in 33.55, last 800 metres in 45.15, last 1000 metres in 56.83 with her final 1200 metres in a fast 1:08.06.
The Waller stable indicated Zalatte will likely be spelled and aimed at three-year-old fillies’ Group features in the autumn.
At Moonee Valley on Friday night, On The Watch was taken by the efforts of several juvenile fillies racing on debut in the Two-Year-Old Fillies’ Plate (1000m).
The winner was the Danny O’Brien-trained filly Lady Lupino (Sebring) who staged a smart effort, proving too nippy over the 1000 metres around Moonee Valley, leading at a quick tempo and then fighting back well to score by a neck in a time of 58.25 for the 1000 metre journey.
Clocked from the 800 metres, Lady Lupino’s 200 metre breakdown was: 10.88, 11.11 (400m in 21.99), 11.39 (600m in 33.38) and 11.29 to give her a fast final 800 metre time of 44.67.
Lady Lupino went well but the runner-up, the Matt Cumani-trained filly Lady Naturaliste (Choisir) really took the eye.
After a quick beginning, Lady Naturaliste settled outside the leader and eventual winner, put pressure on her nearing the home turn and did not shirk her task at any stage for a very good second on debut, looking suited to further.
Lady Naturaliste was timed to run her final 800 metres in 44.73, last 600 metres in 33.82, last 400 metres in 22.68 with her final 200 metres in 11.24. A quality type, she is a filly to watch.
Apart from those two fillies the Lindsay Park-trained/Shadwell-raced filly Maktabba (Per Incanto) also showed potential on debut, making late ground from back in seventh place to finish fourth.
Maktabba produced the fastest closing sectionals of the race, with her last 800 metres in 44.41, last 600 metres in 33.30, last 400 metres in 22.62 with her final 200 metres in 11.24.
Two races later, the Lindsay Park-trained filly Sora (I Am Invincible) looked very smart in winning the Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate (1200m).
Having her second start after finishing third on debut at Sandown-Lakeside on November 21, Sora went to the front, comfortably beat off some challengers nearing the home turn, dashed clear on straightening and then went on to score very easily by just over two lengths in a time of 1:10.42.
Sora’s 200 metre breakdown (from the 1000m) was: 11.08, 11.28 (400m in 22.36), 11.17 (600m in 33.53), 11.64 (800m in 45.17) with her final 200 metres in 11.42 to give her a quick 56.59 for her last 1000 metres.
The feature race last weekend was the Kingston Town Classic (Gr 1, 1800m) at Ascot where the three-year-old filly Arcadia Queen (Pierro) capped her meteoric rise – winning five of six starts, commencing with a maiden win in September to a Group 1 win in December.
And that Group 1 win was certainly a noteworthy performance, which suggested Arcadia Queen’s forte, who has now won from 1200 metres to 1800 metres, is probably her stamina.
Sitting back in fifth place behind a very strong tempo – where the leader Great Shot (Magnus) clocked a mid-section (from the 1200 metres to the 200m) in a fast 1:00.50 – Arcadia Queen then raced away in the straight to score effortlessly by four and half-lengths.
Time for the 1800 metres was a 1:48.55, a 12.06 200 metre rate – which indicates a solid pace throughout.
Also Arcadia Queen was capable of coming off a strong tempo with quick closing times with her final 1000 metres in 58.94, last 800 metres in 47.10, last 600 metres in 35.26 and her last 400 metres in 22.72.
Times that suggest that this West Australian rising star should prove very competitive when and if connections elect to test Arcadia Queen further against stronger opposition in Sydney and Melbourne Group features.