Excellent return saying he's back on track after a -1.0 on debut Bendigo and a stakes placing MV 2023. Had one run as a gelding May and immediately spelled so clearly not right. Here off two sharp jump outs leading in, had big odds market support, and crushed the line on the tight track. -1.3 and -1.2 in the first two sections settling rearward, before an excellent +6.7 last 400 and +4.8 last 200 in isolation. 3rd best last 800, 2nd best last 600 and the best last 400 and 200 of the day. This is basic BM70 level, so probably only needs a length to find a win from here, and that's a conservative goal. 

Subsequently: Winner Ballarat Cup Day 07/12

(added 22/11 customers emailed.) A comfortable win producing his clear best Australian run from -0.3 at Scone, and here is 4th up first prep as a gelding trending the right way. -1.1 at the 800 stalking the leaders, -1.7 in the mid race and -0.3 last 400. However note via the 200 increments he received a one length slowdown from the 400 to 200, before a very strong "last bit best bit" last 200 rebounding by 2.2 lengths racing away. Likely to need another 2 lengths from this to win the Railway and that's most plausible. Deserves great respect.

Subsequently: Unplaced Railway before winner Group 1 Northerly 07/12 

A modest IVR figure in modest grade (!) of no metro wins past year, but with a benchmark PB and this excellent sustained closing win over 1400, there's good confidence there's more to come. After a luckless "no out" run a fortnight earlier, settled going -6.3 lengths below benchmark at the 800 which was nearly 6 lengths from the lead. +3.4 mid race meant a very strong 10 length squeeze, before +6.4 last 400 which included a length slowdown from the 400 to 200. For clarity she closed with the 4th best last 800, 400 and 200 of the day. Is clearly a stronger mare this time in and we expect more to come.

Subsequently: Winner Ascot 07/12

Airborne winning three in a row, including Warwick Farm 16/10 when we included him in Sizzlers due to +1.6 best of the midweek card. +0.4 at the 800, before +4.9 mid race. That saw off the competition leaving him in front at the top of the straight when just hanging on closing with -2.7. However note he suffered a 1.6 length slowdown from the 400 to 200 when under a hold, but picked up 1.5 lengths last 200 under full pressure. That says he can rebound back to his "mid 1" range best. Placed conservatively he can continue to win through the grades.

Subsequently: Winner Rosehill 07/12

Came off three consecutive slow/no tempo runs - winning two of them with a best of -0.8 lengths below benchmark at Sandown - with an even slower one. Just -27.4 at the 800 when 4.5 lengths from the lead, before +0.5 from the 800 to 400 meant a best of the day 28 length squeeze. And he went on with it closing with a booming +10.2 last 400. This included the 2nd best last 600 and 200 of the day and the best last 400 at the end of 2000 metres. He couldn't have done more under this race shape. At Sandown in his lead in he closed with +10.8 last 400. He's airborne and should run very well in the Bendigo Cup.

Subsequently: 2nd Bendigo Cup, 3rd Queen Elizabeth Flemington, 3rd Sandown Classic then winner Ballarat Cup 07/12

5yo starting his 3rd prep for Waterhouse Bott Ex-NZ who didn't really fire in three wet track runs last prep. Here came to play with market support, and a performance that said this won't be his only win this time in. +2.1 at the 800, before +1.2 mid race and -0.7 last 400. However the 200 increments showed a very sharp 6.9 length slowdown from the 600 to 200, before a big 5.2 last 200 rebound. That says his Australian PB of +0.5 is a very conservative target from here, and given this is only BM78 company, he can work through his grades on good summer surfaces.

Subsequently: Winner Rosehill 07/12

Excellent return from this lightly raced mare starting her 3rd prep by kicking off with a new PB at 1200, but with a "better further" profile. -8.3 and -2.8 in the first two sections on the headwind impact day, before +3.1 last 400 which was the 7th best of the day. Has had limited exposure to dry ground, but there's nothing to say she shouldn't be able to add to her two city wins to date which were in basic June fillies company. This says she's at a new level this time in.

Subsequently: Winner Ballarat Cup Day 07/12

Unbeaten mare working her way through the grades winning 2nd up over 1200 at start four in much faster time overall to Ballarat resuming with just -5.0 in a soft tempo 1000. +0.8 lengths above benchmark was good speed, stalking the leaders, before +2.5 in the mid race and -0.1 last 400. When winning with -2.3 and best of the day Terang 23/02, her last 400 was a very slick +3.2. That close is where further elevation can come from here. Placed conservatively can win again.

Subsequently: Winner Ballarat Cup Day 07/12

2nd up after missing 643 days racing Ex-HK and out-bobbed improving a length from his Flemington run 3 weeks earlier, but we underline he was inside lane disadvantaged and is better on clean ground. -0.9 at the 800, -3.0 in the mid race, before -7.1 last 400 that included losing 1.5 lengths last 200 in isolation. That taper was also seen via the 10th best last 800, but just the 22nd best last 200 of the day. He should peak fitness wise next start and getting away from soft going would be preferred. An above benchmark range run is on the cards and in similar BM74 level that would be very hard to beat.

Subsequently: Two unplaced runs and spelled. Resumed winning Bendigo 03/12

Just below benchmark, but an excellent return both short of his best trip and out deep in the "nowhere-land" on the day. -4.4 at the 800 was typical of his relaxed style early, before +3.1 in the mid race, and +6.2 last 400. 3rd best last 800, 4th best last 600, but just the 11th best last 200 of the day showing he peaked on his run. +3.3 last 200 compares to +4.7 to +5.7 range. Clearly aimed at the Everest and most likely to have one more run on the way there. A big elevation is expected.

Subsequently: 3 unplaced runs then winner Rosehill 30/11

Placed in the 1000 Guineas and Oaks March, with her all time best -0.4 set December Belmont 1200, and her autumn best -2.2 lengths below benchmark over 1800 here. Narrowly beaten 18/10 with -3.5 over a mile, and here didn't only come back in trip to 1500, but had an impossible race shape to overcome. -21.1 at the 800 was hurdle speed at the back of the field 5 lengths from the lead. However in going +1.6 she produced a booming best of the day +22.7 length squeeze, and +9.8 last 400 was blistering regardless of lack of tempo. In similar basic company over further should be very hard to stop from winning.

Subsequently: Winner Ascot 16/11 winner Ascot 30/11

First up specialist he again came to play right in his +2.5 to +3.9 band. Led on his terms going +0.4 at the 800, before +3.5 mid race and -0.4 last 400. Actually lost 1.3 lengths last 200 which strongly suggests he wasn't fully "screwed down". As such Champions sprint Flemington or a defence of his Winterbottom title Ascot looks in play with a strong chance of improvement from here.

Subsequently: Unplaced Flemington 09/11 then winner Winterbottom 30/11