Sheidel’s Fast Sectionals One Of The Highlights On A Day Of Fast Times At Caulfield
After showing very good pace from barrier three, Joao Moreira soon had Sheidel travelling sweetly in the lead under her 53 kilos, running along at a deceptively fast clip, which resulted in a brilliant first up victory that was close to track record time.
After being challenged at the home turn by her Lindsay Park-trained stablemate Faatinah (Nicconi), Sheidel fought off that bid to draw to a clear lead at the 100 metres before going to defeat that horse by a length with the favourite Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt) a nose away third.
Sheidel’s sectional times were outstanding.
Clocked from the 1000 metre mark, she returned 200 metres sections of 10.33, 10.45 (400m in 20.78), 10.88 (600m in 31.66) 10.88 (800m in 42.54) with her last 200 metres in 12.50 for a fast last 1000 metres of 55.04.
In addition to fast sectional times, Sheidel’s time of 1:02.11 for the full journey was only 0.38 outside the 1100 metre Caulfield track record that was set by Here De Angels (Dehere) in February 2010.
After being twice placed at the elite level, the win was Sheidel’s first win at Group One and her 15th win in 27 starts to date and the five-year-old mare has now taken her prize money earnings to $1,571,450.
Others to impress on the watch in the race were the late-closing colt Extreme Choice who was a very good first up third and Hellbent (I Am Invincible) who also came from well back to finish fourth.
After settling back in 12th place and going deep rounding the home turn, Extreme Choice’s effort in running third was excellent and he was timed to run his final 1000 metres in a fast 54.90 with his last 800 metres in 44.39, last 600 metres in 33.89 with his final 400 metres in 22.89.
A dual Group One-winning colt Extreme Choice looks set for a very good preparation.
The Darren Weir-trained four-year-old Hellbent also caught the eye, running on late from 14th at the home turn for fourth, beaten just over one and a half lengths.
Hellbent was timed to run his last 1000 metres in 54.90, last 800 metres in 44.31, last 600 metres in 33.77 and final 400 metres in 22.89.
In a memorable day for owners Rob and Sylvie Crabtree’s Dorrington Farm, who race the Oakleigh Plate winner Sheidel, their highly talented juvenile filly Catchy (Fastnet Rock) also took out another of the Group One features, the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m).
And Catchy, like Sheidel produced outstanding times in winning, but unlike her pace-setting stablemate, she came from well back in the field to grab a brilliant victory and remain unbeaten in four starts.
Craig Williams rode Catchy patiently from her difficult barrier (11) and after settling in 12th place, she commenced a wide move on turning for home, that saw her run down the Sydney-trained colt Pariah (Redoute’s Choice) in the closing stages to win by a long neck.
Time for the 1200 metre journey was a quick 1:09.38 but it was Catchy’s sectional times that really impressed, producing the fastest closing sectionals of the race with her last 1000 metres in 55.55, last 800 metres in 44.67, last 600 metres in 33.62, with her final 400 metres in 22.31.
The runner up Pariah also impressed on the watch.
Having only his third start, he clocked 55.93 for his last 1000 metres, 45.22 for his last 800 metres, 34.11 for his last 600 metres with his final 400 metres in 22.80, a very good effort after working on the pace from a wide barrier.
In the other Group One on the Caulfield card, another former West Australian Black Heart Bart (Blackfriars) staged a wonderful effort to scoring a last-stride victory in the Futurity Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) – his fifth success at Group One level.
After settling back in fifth place, Black Heart Bart improved wide out rounding the home turn but he then took a while to gather in the leaders before his renowned will-to-win achieved a nose win at the post over the Japanese import Tosen Stardom (Deep Impact), who is now too in the Darren Weir stable.
Black Heart Bart rarely gives the impression that he has high speed, his wins often appearing workmanlike but his efforts on the watch on Saturday belie that line of thought.
His closing sectional times were quite brilliant, with Black Heart Bart clocking 56.65 (last 1000m), 44.59 (last 800m) 33.04 (last 600m) with a very fast 21.85 for his final 400 metres, clearly the fastest of the day for that section.
At Randwick on Saturday, the feature was the Chipping Norton Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) which saw the champion mare Winx (Street Cry) record another stunning victory, her 15th win in succession and her tenth at Group One.
After being ridden quietly back in seventh place, Winx cruised up in the straight before going on to score decisively, despite the Heavy9 conditions which she appeared to endure rather than appreciate.
Winx has run brilliant times through most of her career and her times in the conditions were again impressive with her final 1000 metres in 60.35, final 800 metres in 47.72, final 600 metres in 35.39 with her last 400 metres in 23.69.
But last word has been reserved for her British-bred, Chris Waller-trained stablemate McCreery (Big Bad Bob), who was still well back in last place in the seven-horse field at the home turn, before storming home to win the Liverpool City Cup (Gr 3, 1300m) in soft fashion at the post by a length.
Having only his 14th start and his first since finishing second to Le Romain (Hard Spun) in the Cantala Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Flemington on 29 October, McCreery’s closing sectional times were quite outstanding in the affected conditions.
McCreery was timed to run his last 1000 metres in 58.73, last 800 metres in 46.92, last 600 metres in 35.12 with his final 400 metres in 23.61.
Perhaps underrated up until now, McCreery is clearly a horse to watch.