Resumed with a best of the day performance Flemington but only -0.4 after +1.4 first section, but a very tired -4.2 last 400. This was a total inverse of speed. -5.6 at the 800, -4.2 in the mid race, before out in the best lanes going +4.2 last 400. Best last 800 of the day and the 2nd best last 400 and 200 showed the sustained close. Importantly going back from wide showed he's now got an ability to relax early now. That gives us confidence there's more to come and he should be able to run out 1200 this time in.

Winner July 30

With an obvious caveat that this is very basic company and he needs to stay in similar, he's ready to win the right race off this 3rd up run, after two "non-events" on very wet ground to start his prep. Settled 6 lengths from the lead going -6.7 at the 800, before benchmark mid race and +0.7 last 400. The micro splits however give more clarity. Lost 4.3 lengths from the 400 to 200 in a savage slowdown, before a solid rebound of 7.5 lengths onto the superior part of the track. +3.5 last 200 in isolation which was the 13th best last 200 of the day at the end of 1666 metres. Last time in produced his PB of +0.7 winning at the Sunshine Coast which was best of the day. That run is again in his scope.

Winner Eagle Farm 16th July

Just ambled out going -10.2 at the 800 when 6.5 lengths from the lead. -1.3 in the mid race  was a sharp 8.8 lengths of improvement, but then really let down with a +6.0 last 400 when finally having clear air. The "picket fence" of the best last 800, 600, 400 and 200 of the day adds merit, and he came off two bottomless bog heavy tracks leading in. He does handle "just" heavy winning 10th run in this track/distance last July with +1.2 lengths above benchmark best of the day, so now the Maher Eustace stable has him right again, he should take holding out going forward.

Rosehill 16th July

Very strong 2nd up win off such a long layoff of 336 days for this import in his 2nd local prep and there should be more to come. -6.7 at the 800, -0.9 in the mid race, then +3.8 last 400. However patiently and brilliantly ridden by Bowman he was only clear at the 200 and that in isolation was +3.2 so a very strong close. This matched his best from May 2021 when at Newcastle starting his campaign, but then won twice here over 1800.

Winner July 30

We sizzled him from his first up run noting he's a leader who was slowly away before -3.5 lengths below benchmark, but the 2nd best last 600 of the day after going back conceding early. Here he took it up early, but the midrace slowdown in genuinely wet conditions smothered the merit of the win. -9.0 at the 800, -13.6 mid race and -4.1 last 400 with his last 200 "last bit best bit" out of the slowdown -0.9. 5th best last 600 of the day, 3rd best last 400 and 2nd best last 200.

Subsequently: Winner Rosehill 13/08

Looks set to repeat his 3rd up performance last prep - his first - when winning at Warwick Farm December with +0.5 lengths above benchmark ranked best of a (good track) midweek day and particularly if he can get better ground, though the wet track indicator here was a sound +5.3. Came from -5.0 lengths below benchmark on bottomless ground here over 1100 resuming, to a top ten performance and last bit best bit, note on the firmest part of the track. -10.5 at the 800, -4.9 mid race, before -2.4 last 400. The last 200 in isolation was +0.1. Now fit as seen via the 5th best last 800 of the day, the 3rd best last 600 and the 7th best last 400 and 200 of the day.

Winner July 30

We were "on the fence" about including him after his sound first up 2nd Randwick over 1300 when -1.0 length below benchmark ranked 8th on the day, noting last prep he went 1400 to the mile - both unplaced - before winning 3rd up with a most sound +0.7 lengths above benchmark over 1900 here on Golden Eagle day. Here 2nd up with 5 weeks between runs he's gone straight to 1800 and clearly very fit with a strong aggressive ride from Bowman who wouldn't concede the lead when taken on. -3.5 at the 800 was good speed in the going, -10.0 mid race was a substantial slowdown, before -3.2 last 400. Climbed out of it with -0.3 last 200. This has effectively matched his PB (+0.8) set at the Gold Coast at the end of his last campaign, and given this is just his 2nd with Waller Ex-NZ strong indications are there's more to come. Loved the conditions with a +8.7 wet track indicator. 

Subsequently: Winner Randwick 06/08

Matched his best from Randwick in October which was over 1200, so in doing so at 1400 in a high pressure set up, says he's ready to be considered in elite 3yo mile company going forward. +5.3 at the 800 despite being 6 lengths from the lead, before -0.5 mid race and +0.4 last 400. His previous asset is an ability to sustain a big 800 close. That he was able to invert his speed with success is a great sign going forward of tactical versatility. 

Subsequently: Unplaced Randwick and spelled

Winner Caulfield 23rd July

Last prep he resumed at -2.4 lengths below benchmark when 3rd at Kenso over 1250 before a best of the day win Bendigo when -0.4 over 1100. Then was spelled after pulling up sore Moonee Valley 24/09. While the overall IVR figure was low three points are important: 1/ The best of three 1000 metre races on the day. 2/ Monster mid race anchor drop. 3/ Best last 800 and 600 of the day. Stalked the lead at -0.5 at the 800, before -5.1 mid race which is a major negative. -0.9 last 400, but the last 200 in isolation when winning effortlessly +0.9 so last bit best bit. We look forward to measuring his progress, but beating his PB next start at benchmark range looks a conservative expectation.

Winner Sandown 20th July

We sizzled him from his Sandown win when +1.3 lengths above benchmark best of the mid week day, and here backed it up with a similar performance given he had some traffic that presented him improving early in the straight. +1.2 at the 800 which was 3.3 length from the lead. Benchmark midrace and +1.1 last 400 so overcoming a one length slowdown as a starting point. This is basic BM70 company, so no reason he can't win again.

Winner Flemington July 16th