Redzel clocked slower in The Everest than Pierata recorded in winning the consolation
After beginning smartly from his inside barrier (1), Redzel travelled well in front at quite a reasonable tempo in the heavy 9 conditions, got a break on turning for home and then fought back well to score by a length from Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) in a time of 1:12.03.
One race earlier, Pierata (Pierro) ran on strongly to easily overhaul the leader Jungle Edge (Dubawi) to win the Sydney Stakes by just under three lengths in a time of 1:10.82 – 1.21 seconds faster.
Redzel clocked 59.19 for the first 1000 metres with his final 200 metres in 12.77 while Pierata’s race saw the first 1000 metres run in 58.75 before sprinting his last 200 metres in 11.97.
Last year, Redzel took out the inaugural Everest, run in ideal conditions on a Good 3 track, in a time of 1:08.36 and he is clearly a high class sprinter, now being a winner of 14 races from 28 starts and prize money earnings of $15,372,000.
But the comparison of the times between The Everest and the Sydney Stakes demonstrated that his task was simplified this year with a lack of a strong pace throughout and the fact that a number of his opponents failed to handle the heavy 9 track.
Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas Day meeting featured four Group 1 races, conducted on a fine sunny day with a large number of standout performances.
In the Ladbrokes Stakes (registered as Caulfield Stakes) (Gr 1, 2000m) the first five across the line all recorded outstanding times, further enhancing their prospects over the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
The Godolphin-raced pair of Benbatl (Dubawi) and Blair House (Pivotal) fought out a tremendous finish with victory going to the former by a half-head in the quick time of 2:00.84, which was only 0.46 seconds outside of the track record.
With a solid pace throughout that saw the leader Homesman (War Front) clock the 1600 metres (from that 1800m to the 200m) in 1:35.64, the closing times of the aforementioned first-five were significantly quick.
The winner Benbatl clocking 34.37 (last 600m), 22.77 (last 400m) and 11.57 (last 200m), second-placed Blair House 34.14 (last 600m), 22.65 (last 400m) and 11.57 (last 200m) with the third-placed Humidor (Teofilo) 33.88 (last 600m), 22.71 (last 400m) and 11.60 for his last 200 metres.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained The Cliffsofmoher (Galileo) really took the eye at his Australian debut running on strongly from 11th at the 600 metres to finish fourth, running that section in 33.71, then 22.60 (last 400m) and 11.52 (last 200m) in a great lead-up to Saturday’s Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m).
While a rising star facing a strong test at weight-for-age conditions here, D’Argento (So You Think) acquitted himself very well in coming from tenth at the 600 metres to finish (2.7 lengths) fifth, clocking 33.91 (last 600m), 22.77 (last 400m) and 11.60 for his final 200 metres.
In the Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) the high quality colt The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) was much more handily placed than his normal pattern (plus trapped wide) but in spite of being out of his comfort zone most of the way, he raced away to score by four and half-lengths.
That was his third Group 1 success in only six starts, The Autumn Sun ran the journey in 1:35.58, with his last 1000 metres in 58.73, last 800 metres in 46.72, last 600 metres in 34.92, last 400 metres in 23.20 with his final 200 metres in 11.71.
Surprisingly, as good as The Autumn Sun clearly is, times in the fillies’ Group 1, the Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) compared very favourably suggesting the progressive winner Amphitrite (Sebring) could prove to be a very high class filly indeed.
Unbeaten in four starts since resuming for the Darren Weir stable, Amphitrite has come from winning a 3yo maiden (1200m) at Sale on September 9 to taking out a Group 1 feature five weeks later.
She settled in last place from her outside barrier (15) tracking a quick pace, before improving wide out at the home turn. Amphitrite then came with a very strong late run to grab victory by a head in a time of 1:35.67 – only 0.9 seconds slower than The Autumn Sun recorded three races later.
In addition, Amphitrite’s closing sectionals were impressive, with her last 1400 metres in 1:21.56, last 1200 metres in 1:10.39, last 800 metres in 46.45, last 600 metres in 34.52, last 400 metres in 22.67 with her final 200 metres in 11.63.
However, her stablemate Land Of Plenty returned the quickest victory over the 1600 metre journey on the day, clocking a fast 1:34.52 in coming from near last after starting from the outside barrier (18) in winning the Toorak Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m).
Land Of Plenty was timed to run his final 1400 metres in a fast 1:20.31, then 1:08.86 (last 1200m), 57.62 (last 1000m), 45.17 (last 800m), 34.00 (last 600m) with his final 400 metres in 22.54.
The runner-up Hartnell (Authorized) staged a tremendous performance under his top weight (59kg), conceding six kilograms to the winner, proving the eight-year-old is far from a spent force, in fact he remains as one of the best horses currently in training in Australia.
Hartnell was timed to run his last 1400 metres in 1:20.31, last 1200 metres in 1:09.46, last 1000 metres in 57.72, last 800 metres in 45.92, last 600 metres in 34.00 with his final 400 metres in 22.91.