Surprise winner I’ll Have A Bit’s fast sectional times suggest she should not be overlooked again
The John McArdle-trained three-year-old filly, settled at the tail of the 11-horse field from her outside barrier, went widest of all at the home turn before coming with a strong late run to score by a neck, going away.
I’ll Have A Bit ran the 1200 metre journey in 1:09.13 on the Soft 5 track, which was 0.6 seconds faster than the 1:09.19 multiple Group One-winning filly Shoals (Fastnet Rock) recorded later in the day in taking out the UBET Classic (registered as Robert Sangster Stakes) (Gr 1, 1200m).
In addition, I’ll Have A Bit also returned faster closing sectional times than Shoals, who was most impressive in her late-closing victory in a highly regarded race.
I’ll Have A Bit being timed to run her final 1000 metres in 53.75, last 800 metres in 42.94, last 600 metres in 32.35, last 400 metres in 22.07 with her final 200 metres in 11.24.
Shoals’ times for the same final sections were: last 1000 metres in 54.17, last 800 metres in 43.38, last 600 metres in 32.95, last 400 metres in 22.33, with her final 200 metres in 11.48.
Until Saturday, I’ll Have A Bit was the winner of one race in 12 starts and in two runs this preparation she had finished eighth and fifth.
But like her sectional times, a closer examination of her form showed that I’ll Have A Bit had mixed in good company in most of her races and her sole win was in fact the National Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Morphettville in May last year.
And in those 12 prior starts, eight had been at stakes level, including a second in the Fillies’ Classic (Gr 2, 1600m) at Moonee Valley last October.
So clearly I’ll Have A Bit really had the credentials to be rated with more respect in the betting despite tackling a high-class field that included Group One-placed colt Viridine (Poet’s Voice) and the well-regarded Nature Strip (Nicconi), a winner of four of his prior six starts.
I’ll Have A Bit’s trainer has since demonstrated his confidence in the filly, advising that she will now tackle Saturday week’s The Goodwood (Gr 1, 1200m) at Morphettville where she is guaranteed a start after taking out the Euclase Stakes.
Shoals’ trainer Anthony Freedman subsequently announced that his highly regarded filly will be spelled and prepared for The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on 13 October.
In the following race at Morphettville, the Team Hawkes-trained filly Sprightly Lass (Snitzel) also impressed on the watch in taking out D C McKay Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) despite being trapped deep on the pace from her difficult barrier.
Sprightly Lass travelled in third place but three wide without cover through some fast sections, demonstrated by the 200 metre breakdown (from the 1000 metre point) of 10.35, 10.36, 10.49, 11.15 and 11.75.
That gave Sprightly Lass impressive closing sectionals: her last 1000 metre in 54.07, last 800 metres in 43.70, last 600 metres in 33.35 with her last 400 metres in 22.90.
She went on to score by just over a length in a time of 1:03.25 (11.50 200m rate), equivalent to 1200 metres in 1:09.00.
It was her sixth win (with two placings) from eight starts and the most consistent filly looks set to keep progressing through the classes.
Another highly consistent three-year-old filly to stage a noteworthy effort against the clock at the weekend was the Bjorn Baker-trained Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt) in winning the Gold Coast Guineas (Gr 3, 1200m).
Having her first start since September, Champagne Cuddles raced back in fifth place behind a strong tempo set by Whypeeo (I Am Invincible) that saw the first 600 metres covered in 34.45 before Corey Brown brought the filly with a well-timed run to score by a length.
With a final 600 metres in a fast 33.20, Champagne Cuddles then ran the 1200 metres distance in a very fast 1:07.65, a time that took 0.30 seconds off the long standing track record of 1:07.95.
Yet to miss a place in eight starts to date, it was Champagne Cuddles third win in a record that includes five placings at Group level, two at Group One.
The runner-up, the Toby Edmonds-trained Whypeeo also deserves acknowledgement as he fought gamely after setting the hectic tempo and he too has a most consistent record, now with five wins and two placings from ten starts.
In the final race on the Gold Coast card, the Mark Newnham-trained mare Anatola (More Than Ready) backed up her recent performance in winning a Benchmark 85 (1200m) at Randwick in a course record 1:08.03 to score again in fast time.
After beginning quickly away from her outside barrier (15), Anatola worked across to take the lead, with the first 600 metres covered in 34.04, she grabbed a good break halfway down the straight and then went on to score by almost two lengths in 1:08.41.