Promising Sprinter Spieth Again Impresses With Fast Sectional Times
Stepping up rapidly in class after the four-year-old’s first up win in the City Tattersall’s Lightning Handicap (Listed, 1100m) at Randwick on 15 October, Spieth tackled Group One weight-for-age sprinters and confirmed his potential with an excellent performance.
He settled back in second last place in the 12-horse field before getting a split at the 200 metres. Spieth then finished particularly well, failing by only a short head in overhauling the BTC Cup (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Malaguerra (Magnus).
Time for the 1200 metre distance was a smart 1:10.25 but again Spieth really impressed with his sectional breakdown.
Clocked from the 1000 metre point, Spieth ran 200 metre sections of 11.14, 10.90 (400m in 22.04), 10.79 (600m in 32.83), 11.14 (800m in 43.97) with his last 200 metres in 11.85 to give him a fast last 1000 metre time of 55.82.
Noteworthy was the fact that Spieth was the only horse in the field to better 56.00 (for his last 1000m, clocking 55.83), to better 45.00 (for his last 800m clocking 44.68), to better 34.00 (for his last 600m clocking 33.78), to better 23.00 (for his last 400 metres, clocking 22.99) and also breaking 12.00 (for his last 200m in clocking 11.85).
Spieth, who is trained by young Warwick Farm trainer Bryce Heys, was clearly facing a task under the weight-for-age conditions, and now appears an ideal prospect for the feature handicap sprinting features of the Oakleigh Plate (Gr 1, 1100m) and Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) in February and March, respectively.
The winner Malaguerra was having only his second start for new trainer Peter Gelagotis and he also impressed on the watch.
He settled nicely in fourth place, behind the leading group in the centre of the track before dashing to the front at the 100 metres. Malaguerra then dug deep when challenged, fighting back to score in a photo finish.
Timed from the 1000 metres, Malaguerra returned 200 metre sections of 10.98, 10.99 (400m in 21.97), 10.79 (600m in 32.76), 11.25 (800m in 44.01) with his last 200 metres in 12.11 to give him a last 1000 metre time of 56.12.
In the other Group One feature on the closing day of the Melbourne Cup carnival, the Emirates Stakes (registered as Mackinnon Stakes) (Gr 1, 2000m), Awesome Rock (Fastnet Rock) scored a deserving win after losing the Australian Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) on protest in March.
Awesome Rock was given a good trip by Stephen Baster, tracking the free-running leader Vadamos (Monsun) before going to the front at the 100 metres. He then fought back to score by just under a length from Godolphin’s Hauraki (Reset) and Seaburge (Sebring, who tied for second, in the good time of 2:02.49.
The first 1400 metres was clocked in 1:26.79 (12.39 200m rate) with the final 600 metres in 35.70 (11.90 200m rate) indicating a truly run race throughout, which also suggests that the Emirates Stakes should prove to be a good form race.
Seaburge certainly showed his potential for the Sydney three-year-old features in the autumn in running on well from seventh at the 1000 metres, which he was clocked to run in a very solid 58.97.
Another to take the eye was the Chris Waller-trained four-year-old Vanbrugh (Encosta De Lago) who battled on solidly for sixth, beaten just under three lengths in the Group One weight-for-age feature after being handy all the way.
The favourite The United States (Galileo) missed the start and visually he seemed to only run on quite well but he returned some of the best closing sectionals of the race in making ground from tenth at the 1000 metres to finish fifth, beaten just under three lengths.
The United States was timed to run his last 1000 metres in 58.92, last 800 metres in 46.84, last 600 metres in 34.93 with his final 400 metres in 23.42.
In the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 3, 2600m) the Charlie Appleby-trained Francis Of Assisi (Danehill Dancer) showed what a quality stayer he is with a dominant ten-length victory, also clocking very solid sectionals.
Francis Of Assisi ran the 2600 metre journey in 2:41.13, which is an impressive 12.39 200 metre rate for the testing distance, and was only 0.13 seconds outside of the Flemington track record for that distance.
In addition, Francis Of Assisi was timed to run his last 1000 metres in 59.93, last 800 metres in 47.68, last 600 metres in 35.65 with his final 200 metres in 23.85, confirming he is a stayer with Cups potential next year.
At the other end of the spectrum, a performance worth highlighting was the effort on the watch by the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained sprinter Redzel (Snitzel) in winning the Mumm Stakes (registered as Century Stakes) (Listed, 1000m) at Flemington on Oaks day.
The noted speedster began quickly and led the field, racing solo on the Grandstand side, before fighting back to defeat the Group One-winning sprinter Terravista (Captain Rio) by half a head in the fast time of 56.72.
Redzel returned some brilliant sectionals. Clocked from the 800 metres, he ran 200 metre fractions of 10.35, 10.54 (400m in 20.89), 10.81 (600m in 31.70) with his last 200 metres in 11.71 to give him a final 800 metres in a very fast 43.41.
The runner up Terravista also impressed.
Carrying top weight of 60.5 kilograms, Terravista conceded the winner 1.5 kilograms and came from sixth at the 800 metres, failing only in a photo finish to catch the winner. Timed from the 800 metres, Terravista ran 200 metre sections of 10.56, 10.51 (400m in 21.07), 10.64 (600m in 31.71) with his final 200 metres in 11.34 to give him a last 800 metre time of 43.05.
Terravista is now likely to head to Perth for the Winterbottom Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Ascot on 26 November where the Joe Pride-trained sprinter certainly looks likely to be effective after his bold first up effort at Flemington.