Cracking mare who has featured in Sizzlers in each of her 3 starts during our coverage starting with +1.8 at Eagle Farm over 1500 winning 13/12 before beaten a nose at the mile with -2.8 but producing a phenomenal 21.5 length midrace squeeze. Here at 1800 found the fast tempo race shape she thrives on going -1.6 at the 800 despite being 6.3 lengths from the lead. +0.2 in the mid race before last bit best bit +2.6 last 400. The data screams she's a stronger mare than when winning this race last year (at Caloundra) before narrowly beaten on the quick back up. She should take beating this time around as she's clearly improved.

Subsequently: 3rd Magic Millions day 17/01. Freshened then first up Doomben winner 11/04 at $15

Import with four local runs and four appearances in Sizzlers, and has smashed his +2.5 level set first up when a narrow 2nd Randwick mile. Found a very slow tempo race shape going -13.9 lengths below benchmark in the strike zone 2.4 lengths from the lead. From there produced a booming 19 length squeeze with +5.0 from the 800 to 400, before +6.2 last 400. The last 600 micro-splits were +4.0, +3.1 and +3.1 so a perfect distribution of energy. Whether he can rise again into the Cox Plate is a query given the VIA SISTINA best level, but he's perfectly poised for the Melbourne Cup this far out.

REPOST AFTER QUEEN ELIZABETH WIN 11/04

What a return! Her first up runs/wins have been -6.7 Warwick Farm December 2024 - including the best last 400 and 200 of the day - and +1.1 at Rosehill last September, so she's returned with a resuming PB saying "the trend is her friend" and a new level is in play this time in. -2.5 at the 800 stalking the lead, before +2.3 in the mid race and +4.2 last 400 with the *screaming* lead that she lost 1.2 lengths last 200 despite winning. This was also seen via the 8th best last 600, the 7th best last 400, but just the 26th best last 200 of the day. Her PB to date is +4.1 when 2nd in the Everest and that could be eclipsed from here.

Subsequently: Winner Surround 28/02. Winner Arrowfield 11/04

5yo mare who has returned in great order from benchmark first up 3 weeks earlier also this track/distance to a brand new PB in a very favourable race shape. Just -13.2 at the 800 in a "walking" tempo stalking the lead, before -1.9 mid race so an absolute cruise. Last 400 however was +9.5 which was a booming 2nd best of the day and best of her career. Last year in the Railway when conceding early, her last 400 was +8.7 before being running 3rd in a then career best run. Didn't fire in Melbourne, but off a 238 day break has hit this carnival hard and the lack of pressure early should only see more to come. Clear Railway contender.

Subsequently: Twice unplaced and spelled. First up winner Group 3 Redelva Morphettville 11/04

On pacer who received a "Craig Williams special" leading throughout and producing a new PB in the process. +1.4 lengths above benchmark at the 800 was good speed in the ground, before -1.3 in the mid race and -7.5 last two sections in a slow taper but getting others too tired to chase and pass him. This was a very strong 2.3 length elevation from his first up Caulfield 2nd. Makes his own luck with a very strong top two strike rate. Looks a weapon at this time of year ongoing. Perhaps the Bendigo Golden Mile as the target from here?

Subsequently: Winner Caulfield 11/04

This was a stunning performance, with the amazing part being not only did she avoid flatness from her lead in run but thrived and increased from a monster clear PB of +3.2 from just -2.0. We need to underline that included a phenomenal reversal of early speed going +5.6 to the 800 after -16.1 the previous start. So here -0.3 at the 800, +4.3 in the mid race before +4.1 last 400. While it included a 0.7 length slight slowdown from the 400 to 200, it showed a generally even distribution of speed and as such says +4 looks her range. That is high class if she can hold it! Golden Eagle or Empire Rose from here???

Subsequently: Unplaced Empire Rose Derby Day and Spelled. 2nd up winner Rosehill 28/03///REPOST AFTER QUEEN OF THE TURF WIN 11/04

Came right on from her first up -0.4 lengths below benchmark 4th at Randwick and there's more to come! -6.7 at the 800 sitting midfield, before closing with -0.5 and -0.2 last 2 sections. 10th best last 600 and 400 of the day and the 9th best last 400 confirmed the good, sustained close. Wet track indicator was an "OK" +5.3, but last time in at Randwick she twice produced +3.2 and +3.9 over a mile on clean ground. The Queen of the Turf there looks a logical next step, and as strong as it is certain to be, she deserves a tonne of respect as a peak run is on the cards.

Subsequently: Winner Queen of the Turf Randwick 11/04

Lightly raced 4yo mare with a booming sprint who had the dual disadvantage of coming back in distance from 1200 first up and finding a barrier trial race shape. Just -13.1 lengths below benchmark at the 800 but nearly 5 lengths from the lead. -3.5 in the mid race was a 9.6 length squeeze off a soft pace, but the last 400 of +8.4 was excellent. Further context is via the "picket fence" of the best last 800, 600, 400 and 200 of the day. Last prep Caulfield Cup Day she produced -0.5 when 2nd over 1200, and that to her +0.6 PB looks a conservative target from here. 

Subsequently: Winner Caulfield 11/04

"Job done" in collecting her first Group 1, and while she "scrambled" home at odds on stepping to 1400, the run had serious merit matching her +1.9 win three weeks earlier over 1200 and under a different race shape. -6.5 at the 800 had her 5 lengths from the leader/runner up, before +4.1 in the mid race meaning a booming 10.6 length squeeze. She nearly sustained it home with +3.2 last 400, but was tapering late going +1.3 last 200 in isolation. This was 1.8 lengths better than her Golden Rose 1400 placing last spring, before her outstanding +4.1 chasing KA YING RISING in the Everest. TJ Smith looks bang on target for similar. 

Subsequently: Winner Arrowfield 11/04

This was a big performance! 2yo having her 3rd start, and while leading, did so in a relaxed manor and finished off very hard. -1.5 and -0.8 first two sections, before a blistering +4.7 last 400 which was the best of the whole meeting as well as the 2nd best last 200. Just below benchmark, just below top 10 of a strong day, and first use of the track clearly all equates to "hard to knock". Would be no surprise if they kept her to short courses and now doing it right as she learns her craft, kept her winning!

Subsequently: 3rd Flemington 28/03 then winner Caulfield 11/04

Won at bolters odds, but how can top 5 on Golden Slipper day be knocked?!?! He did resume gelded with a sound albeit beaten 3 lengths -2.2 lengths below benchmark at Caulfield in a blistering 1200 won by PALLATON over DEVIL NIGHT, who next start ran 3rd also today in the Group 1 William Reid in Melbourne. That stated this was a monster elevation and big PB. +0.6 at the 800 stalking the lead, before +1.3 in the mid race and -2.3 last 400. As such a relatively perfect distribution of speed. Now that they have him right and at this level, he should remain very hard to beat in 3yo stakes sprints.

Subsequently: Winner Randwick 11/04

Freak mare who made it 10 from 10, with 9 of them being top 2 IVR performances on the day, and 5 including this being best of the day. Slightly came off her +3.5 set a fortnight earlier, but under a different race shape that meant doing more was virtually mathematically impossible! Just -14.3 at the 800 sitting 2nd line, before +1.2 in the mid race. That +15.4 length squeeze was the best of her career. Closed with +10.1 last 400 which included +5.7 last 200. That was the best last 400 and 200 of her career, and she produced the best last 600, 400 and 200 of the meeting. Her +4.9 PB looks under threat from here!

Subsequently: Winner George Ryder 21/03.