Sectional Times suggest Vega Magic’s defeat was not as disappointing as it may have appeared
Starting $4.00 favourite in the large 20-horse field to repeat his victory in last year’s Goodwood, Vega Magic was having his first start since November and was resuming with top weight (59kg) from a difficult barrier (14).
With leading jockey Damien Oliver in the saddle, Vega Magic began well but caught three wide outside the leading trio, on a strong tempo.
He was under pressure on turning for home and then battled on for (4.2 lengths) eighth – only the fifth time Vega Magic has missed a place in a career of 12 wins and four placings from 21 starts.
And while supporters were naturally disappointed, Vega Magic’s mid-race sectional times suggest he is still capable of being most effective in the future, and at a high level.
Clocked (from the 1000 metres to the 200 metres) Vega Magic’s 200 metre breakdown was 10.31, 10.75 (400m in 21.06), 11.33 (600m in 32.39) and 11.65 to give him a fast 800 metre section of 44.04.
That all told against Vega Magic over the closing stages, his final 200 metres being 12.87 but it still gave him a final 1000 metre time of 56.91, certainly respectable to say the least.
Co-trainer David Hayes has since advised that Vega Magic would now be given a break to be aimed at the Bletchingly Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Caulfield in July in a bid to attract interest of The Everest slot-holders, a race that Vega Magic was runner up last year.
Success in this year’s Goodwood went to the Anthony Freedman-trained gelding Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega), a noted backmarker who appreciated the strong early pace and he staged a strong effort in coming from 17th at the 400 metre mark to score by just over a length.
Santa Ana Lane returned the fastest closing sectional times of the race and they were quite outstanding with his last 1000 metres in 55.87, last 800 metres in 45.20, last 600 metres in 34.24, last 400 metres in 22.99 with his final 200 metres in 11.68.
It was Santa Ana Lane’s second win at Group One level, having taken out the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) last year and his sixth win (with six placings) from 26 starts.
The other Group One feature on Saturday, was the Doomben Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) which saw the Chris Waller-trained Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock) dispel any thoughts about his ability to run 2000 metres in coming off a strong tempo to score.
The pace was on from the start with Tom Melbourne (Dylan Thomas) running along strongly in the lead, resulting in the first 1000 metres clocking 59.59, turning the race a true test.
Comin’ Through settled back in seventh place from his outside barrier, before making a wide move from the 600 metres, the four-year-old then finishing too well to score by a short neck in a solid effort.
Time for the race was a quick 2:01.43 on the Good 4 track, with Comin’ Through being clocked to run his final 1000 metres in 1:00.54, last 800 metres in 48.40, last 600 metres in 36.00, last 400 metres in 24.12 with his final 200 metres in 12.08.
After being placed twice previously at Group One, it was Comin’ Through’s first success at Group One level and his sixth win (with five placings) from 17 starts.
Runner up was his stablemate Egg Tart (Sebring), a dual Oaks winning filly last season, and she too staged a good performance clocking 1:00.52 for her final 1000 metres, 48.52 (last 800m), 36.06 (last 600m) 24.24 (last 400m) with her final 200 metres in 12.20.
Earlier in the Doomben programme, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly Eawase (Sebring) impressed in coming from near last to take out the Bill Carter Stakes (Listed, 1200m).
Having only her fourth race start after a promising first up win in a 2YO fillies’ maiden (1200m) at Randwick on 25 April, Eawase drew away over the closing stages to score easily with the upcoming J J Atkins Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) now being on the agenda.
After tracking a good pace, Eawase returned fast closing sectionals with her final 800 metres in 45.54, last 600 metres in 33.78, last 400 metres in 22.38 with her final 200 metres in 11.26.
Mention is due however to the runner up, the Toby Edmonds-trained filly Granny Red Shoes (Not A Single Doubt) who recorded similarly quick closing sectional times.
Her stablemate Winter Bride (Not A Single Doubt) also impressed on the watch in taking out the QTIS Three-Year-Old Plate (1200m) at her first run this preparation.
She finished well from fifth at the home turn to score by just over two lengths in a time of 1:09.12 with Winter Bride clocking 44.92 (last 800m), 33.76 (last 600m), 22.84 (last 400m) with her final 200 metres in 11.68.
Another to take the eye in the race was the lightly-raced, Tony Gollan-trained gelding Unlikely Story (Star Witness) who came from last in the 12-horse field to finish fourth.
A winner of a Toowoomba maiden (1100m) on 2 May at his prior outing, Unlikely Story clocked fast closing times with his last 800 metres in 44.52, last 600 metres in 33.52, last 400 metres in 22.40 with his final 200 metres in 11.36.
Doomben sectional times provided by www.dailysectionals.com.au