Turnbull Stakes sectional times analysis a further demonstration of Winx’s brilliance
Her three-year winning streak looked in danger when Winx was back in last place as the ten-horse field approached the home turn, needing to gain clear running and then accelerate off a very steady tempo to record her 28th successive win.
The early pace was set by Trap For Fools (Poet’s Voice) who had run very moderate mid-race sectionals that saw the 1000 metres (from the 1800m to the 800m) clocked in 62.77.
While Winx had only clocked 63.49 for the same 1000 metre section at the tail of the field and to come from that position with the tempo now lifting was going to take a Houdini performance which had her army of supporters fearing the worst.
But the seemingly impossible is Winx’s speciality.
The 63.49 section is equal to 12.69 seconds per 200 metres, her final dash home saw her clock 43.98 for her last 800 metres – 10.99 seconds per 200 metres.
Her 200 metre individual breakdown (from the 800 metres) being: 11.77, 10.74, 10.60 and 10.87 – highlight of Winx’s dash for victory being those latter sectionals which resulted in her clocking 32.21 for her final 600 metres, brilliant in any race let alone at the end of a 2000 metre race.
Winx even actually appeared to win with something in hand at the post, the phenomenal mare scoring by a length from the Queensland Oaks (Gr 1, 2200m) winner Youngstar (High Chaparral) with Kings Will Dream (Casamento) just under a length way in third in a time of 2:01.60 for the 2000 metre journey.
She now heads to the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) on October 27, a fourth successive success in Australia’s principal weight-for-age contest looking clearly within Winx’s grasp.
The pacegetters also impressed with their closing sectionals, Youngstar clocking 44.76 (last 800m), 32.99 (last 600m), 22.08 (last 400m) and 11.08 (last 200m). Kings Will Dream clocking 44.87 (last 800m), 33.22 (last 600m), 22.39 (last 400m) and 11.39 for his final 200 metres.
While the fourth-placed Ventura Storm (Zoffany) clocked 44.64 (last 800m), 32.96 (last 600m), 22.16 (last 400m) and 11.30 for his last 200 metres.
One to catch the eye over the latter stages was the Godolphin-raced stayer Tally (Street Cry) who made ground for (5.4 lengths) eighth, clocking 44.76 (last 800m), 33.01 (last 600m), 22.28 (last 400m) and 11.35 for his final 200 metres.
Others to impress on the watch at Flemington, included the David Pfieffer-trained mare I Am Excited (Snitzel) in the Gilgai Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) who came from last place in the ten-horse field to snatch victory right on the post.
I Am Excited clocked fast closing sectionals with her last 1000 metres in a fast 54.72, last 800 metres in 44.07, last 600 metres in 33.39, last 400 metres in 22.62 with her final 200 metres in 11.61.
The runner-up Eduardo (Host), who featured in this column recently after clocking a sensational 400 metres in 20.16 when having only his third race start at Caulfield on September 22, again impressed with his times.
Advancing quickly in class, taking on a Group 2, at set weight and penalties at his fourth start, the lightly-raced five-year-old gelding was a handy third before battled strongly for (half neck) second in a very smart performance.
Eduardo’s 200 metre breakdown (from the 1000m) was: 10.48, 10.76 (400m in 21.24), 10.88 (600m in 32.12), 11.26 (800m in 43.38) and 11.97 for a final 1000 metres in 55.35. He is a horse to watch.
In the opening race on the Flemington card, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt Unite And Conquer (Hinchinbrook) staged a very professional performance in taking out the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (Listed, 1000m) when racing on debut.
Going straight to the front, the well-educated colt led throughout to score by just over two lengths in the quick time of 57.82, but it was his sectionals that really took the eye.
Unite And Conquer’s 200 metre breakdown (from the 800m) was: 10.99, 10.91 (400m in 21.90), 10.83 (600m in 32.73) and 11.49 to give the colt a fast final 800 metre time of 44.19.
The runner-up, the Tony McEvoy-trained colt Sun City (Zoustar), also on debut, impressed On The Watch.
Sun City was seventh at the 800 metre point and he did well in running on to take second, albeit without threatening the winner, clocking quick closing sectionals; his last 800 metres in 44.19, last 600 metres in 33.14, last 400 metres in 22.32 with his final 200 metres in 11.53.
He raced a bit keenly, showing his inexperience, yet finished off the race really well. He should take great benefit from the outing and Sun City looks a classy colt in the making.
At Saturday’s Randwick meeting the Queensland-trained, three-year-old colt Sesar (Sebring) staged a very good effort in taking out the Roman Consul Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m).
Having his first start since a late-closing fourth in the J J Atkins Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Doomben in June, Sesar again settled at the tail of the field, in fact he was being ridden hard to keep in touch with the fast early pace.
But he finished too well after getting along the rails in the straight to score impressively by just over a length in a time of 1:09.91 on a heavy 8 track.
Sesar clocked fast closing sectionals in the conditions, with his last 1000 metres in 55.67, last 800 metres in 45.15, last 600 metres in 34.39, with his final 400 metres in 22.90.
While the last word goes to the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained colt Yulong January (King Of Prussia) who took his record to three wins from as many starts, in taking out the Benchmark 74, Three-Year-Old Handicap (1400m) impressively.
Yulong January led throughout and despite racing greenly at this first start in the Sydney direction, he scored comfortably by two lengths in a time of 1:23.84 on the heavy 9 track.
His mid-race sectionals were very smart (from the 1200m), Yulong January, clocking 22.56 (400m), 34.34 (600m), 46.38 (800m), 57.91 (1000) and 1:10.07 for his last 1200 metres.
Yulong January looks a colt with a very bright future.