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Mogo Magic’s standing in The Kosciuszko picture went up a notch with his first win outside of country grade at Randwick on Saturday but how did his performance stack up on the day?

Punter’s Intelligence data revealed the three-year-old’s overall time of 1:03.36 in his 1100m Benchmark 72 contest was the slowest of the three races run over that trip – though not by a whole lot.

The Benchmark 88 won by Insurrection was run in 1:03.03, so some two lengths faster, and the two-year-old event won by Caballus was clocked in 1:03:25 (about half a length faster).

The juveniles were quicker in the first 500m of the race though Mogo Magic did have to do a bit of work to find his position outside the leader, running a slick 10:46 from the 1000m-800m.

It was an important test for the gelding to pass, and he did it well to make it five wins from as many starts.

But he won’t fully put his Kosciuszko stocks on the line until he attempts 1200m for the first time which trainer Scott Collings indicated would happen after the ticket draw with a slot hopefully already secured in the $2 million feature on October 14.

Out of Mogo Magic’s race, the run of Smashing Eagle was hard to miss.

He found himself back near last and was held up at a couple of vital stages, a case could be made that he should have gone close, and he clocked the meeting’s fastest last 200m of 11:23 as well as the race’s fastest last 600m of 33.37.

He’s now had three runs for Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou and is bursting to win a race.

Inver Park was making his Australian debut in the race won by Insurrection and his performance provided a great platform for him to step up in distance.

The rising six-year-old’s last win was over 1408m at Ascot in the UK so he was always going to find 1100m a bit sharp. However, he charged home from last to finish sixth and ran the meeting’s fastest last 600m of 32.93.

Third placed Deepour ran 32:99 and was just a little sharper in the final 400m as you’d expect for a race fit sprinter but there’s still plenty of merit in Inver Park’s first-up run.

Caballus had a $1 million price tag when he left the sales and Chris Waller might have a left-field spring contender on his hands after the colt’s smart win.

Unlike in his debut where he didn’t see a lot of clean air, he enjoyed a nice run midfield and was able to sprint home in 33.70 for his last 600m as he ran down Estriella.

Post-race James McDonald suggested around 1400m would be the colt’s sweet spot and while he has a few rungs to climb to match the likes of Shinzo and Militarize it’s hardly unprecedented for the late season youngsters to shine brighter at three.

It would be fair to say that Tags hasn’t had a lot of luck in his career but after two excellent runs back he might be ready to claim a Highway.

No horse hit the line better than the Gayna Williams-trained galloper in the 1200m Highway, he ran 34.20 for his last 600m and easily the race’s best last 200m of 11.45 as he rocketed home from the back to run fifth.

There’s no shortage of horses to follow from the 1300m Benchmark 72 won by King Of Naples.

The obvious is Gently Rolled, who had to do some ducking and weaving before he balanced up to run into third with a last 200m of 11.38 (last 600m 33.63). Then there’s Venelope who clocked a 33.61 last 600m and is crying out for a bit more ground as she finished sixth.

Probably the less obvious was Strait Acer who ran seventh, with Venelope just getting past him late, but posted a 33.48 last 600m. He ran the fastest 400m-200m of 10.93 so may have just knocked up.

Fastest last 600m: Inver Park 32.91

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