Airborne but luckless bumping into "Saturday" (at least) horses KING ZEPHYR last start and here NO FUSS and this time smashed his PB from -0.4 in doing so. +1.9 at the 800, before +7.1 from the 800 to 400. Last 400 was an understandable taper going -1.6. At time of writing is entered for Bendigo 12/04 and in his right class there - and hopefully without another "monster climber" - can go one better with ordinary luck.

Subsequently: (Luckless!) 3rd Bendigo 12/04 then winner Sandown 21/04

Slow maturing sprinter who just missed as heavily backed favourite on resumption, but has produced a PB despite having an unfavourable race shape. That says he's still going one way: Upwards! -6.7 at the 800 had him 4.5 lengths from leader/winner EAGLE NEST who was cruising. +2.2 in the mid race meant a solid 9 length squeeze, before a very solid +7.7 last 400. That his last 200 was +4.7 said too much too late. Looks set for a new level again this time in, and should be able to plot his way through quality Group 3 and Group 2s.

Subsequently: Unplaced Flemington 29/03. Winner Canterbury 21/04

6th run for the prep, so no improvement to come from his peak of +1.4 set previous start Sandown, but here couldn't have had more things go wrong. Firstly found himself near last going -4.1 lengths below benchmark on a leader/rails advantaged day, and then squeezed 9 lengths with +4.8 from the 800 to 400. His last 400 was +4.3, but the 200 splits revealed a sharp 3.7 length slowdown peeling to the - clear inferior lanes on the day! - centre of the track from the 400 to 200. Then rebounded with the 4th best last 200 of the day! Staying in this BM74 level with better tactics should see him take a power of beating.

Subsequently: Winner Sandown 21/04

Get him away from YORKSHIRE! Has run 2nd twice in his last two starts to that promising galloper, but this 5yo in his first prep with the on fire Baker stable just needs to rebound to his +0.1 to +0.7 level he produced 1st and 3rd up to be a very strong chance of going one better in similar. +1.0 at the 800 was 4.5 lengths slower than his previous start strongly suggesting he was slightly flat on the 14 day back up. +0.4 in the mid race before -1.0 last 400. Would be no surprise if they bring him back to 1400, and possibly with a 3-6 week break? 

Subsequently: Winner Newcastle 1400 Group 3 March 7. Rosehill 5th April 1 then winner Randwick 19/04

In summary: Bring on 1400! Won the Oakleigh Plate first up with a blistering PB of +3.4 length above benchmark, but in having a 1200 run on the poorly presented wet track at Moonee Valley just a fortnight prior to this, the data strongly suggests it sapped any pure speed out of his legs here. Just -7.2 at the 800 had him 6 lengths from the lead. However +2.0 from the 800 to 400 meant a quality 9.3 length squeeze, before a booming +8.6 last 400. This outstripped his Oakleigh Plate close by 2.2 lengths and for further context was the best last 800, 600, 400 and 200 of the day.

Subsequently: Winner All Aged Stakes 19/04

Started favourite, but after settling last going just -8.2 at the 800 was effectively out of play on the on-pace/rails "highway". +2.2 in the mid race though was a phenomenal squeeze in the circumstances, before gassing out with -1.9 taking the turn wide in clearly inferior lanes on the poorly presented track. Closed with the 2nd best last 800 and 600 of the day for context/confirmation it was a better run than the results said. This "tweener" from his brilliant +3.4 Oakleigh Plate win, sets him up for a big rebound in Sydney where the TJ Smith or All Aged Stakes look logical targets. 

Subsequently: 4th TJ Smith 05/04 then winner All Aged Stakes 19/04

(Added 31/03 customers emailed.) Excellent debut placing in Group 3 on a very strong day. Settled midfield going -5.8 at the 800, before a very strong midrace squeeze of 9.4 lengths with +3.6 from the 800 to 400. Only a slight late taper running his last 400 in +2.9. Has shown here and in trials an ability to relax early before closing hard, so the 1400 looks ideal. The obvious caveat is being unknown in wet ground

Subsequently: Winner Rosehill 01/04. Winner Group 1 Champagne Randwick 19/04

Lightly raced stayer on the rise, and with ordinary luck/health going forward there's more wins to come. Her PB was bolting in a Pakenham 2000 maiden March when -2.9 lengths below benchmark ranked 2nd best of the night, so here has sailed past that, and the data says it should have been much stronger. +1.7 at the 800 was solid speed and nearly 16 lengths faster first section than Moe previous start, but was 6.4 lengths from the lead. Then suffered a sharp 6.8 length slowdown going -5.1 in the mid race as the on-pacers dropped anchor, before -1.4 last 400 and +0.2 last 200. Benchmark is a conservative next start target!

Subsequently: Failed on wet ground Caulfield and spelled. Twice unplaced then 3rd up winner $150,000 Country Oaks Echuca 18/04

Airborne! Tancred winner of 2023 where he produced his PB of +3.1 lengths above benchmark, and here not only tested that, but smashed his previous best at the mile range of +0.8. Showed excellent early pace going -2.4 at the 800 stalking the lead, before +4.2 and +5.2 last two sections. That says despite being 8 years young, he's going as well as ever, and of course he's a "duck" were he to find wet ground. Could well bring up a 2nd Tancred in four weeks time. 

Subsequently: Nose 2nd Rosehill 15/03. Tancred 4th Rosehill 01/04. Winner Sydney Cup 12/04.

Progressed from +3.4 to +3.8, but in settling behind rather than in front of VIA SISTINA here, it just made the task too tough. -5.6 at the 800 had her 6 lengths from the lead. +5.5 mid race meant an 11 length squeeze, and she sustained it home with a typically outstanding +8.5 last 400. At time of writing is heading to the George Ryder where in 2023 she produced +4.5 chasing the mighty ANAMOE. If saying fit and well and on clean ground, that looks a conservative target.

Subsequently: Nose 2nd George Ryder Rosehill 22/03. Winner Queen of the Turf Randwick 12/04

Australia's best horse as she proved in her astonishing Cox Plate win with a Winx like +14.3 lengths above benchmark, but this 2nd up performance - from +2.4 - is her 3rd best local run from +4.7 set in the McKinnon Flemington 09/11, and screams there's a massive peak to come going forward. -4.2 at the 800 had her 4.5 lengths from the lead. +5.2 in the mid race was a 9.4 length squeeze, before +7.8 last 400. Race to race her last 2 sections were similar, but her first section was a 10.6 length improvement of early speed! If staying fit and well - and hopefully remaining on clean ground - good luck beating her from here!

Subsequently: Winner Ranvet Rosehill 22/03. Winner Queen Elizabeth Randwick 12/04.

This was a big win! Was clearly set to win the Blue Diamond from her solid -2.0 nose 2nd at Rosehill when having momentum stopping traffic, so instead has "exploded" here showing what she's capable of and it's a very good level. Settled at the 800 going -2.5 when 5.6 lengths from the lead. From there +4.4 in the mid race meaning an excellent 7 length squeeze. Last 400 was +3.6, so the close was strong and sustained. It also included a one length slowdown from the 600 to 200. Usual caveat of a filly in her first prep, but the reality is if she holds or improves off this figure, she's likely to be deep in the Golden Slipper finish.

Subsequently: 3rd Golden Slipper 22/03 Rosehill. Winner Randwick 12/04