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If we learned one thing from the Concorde Stakes at Randwick it’s that Lady Shenandoah is a serious TAB Everest chance and it’s a matter of time before she’s given a slot.

Take nothing away from the winner Headwall, very well ridden by Zac Lloyd to pounce at the right time, but the Chris Waller-trained mare suggested she could be even better as a sprinter than when she stretched out to a mile last season.

In a race that produced some fast sectionals, Punter’s Intelligence data showed Lady Shenandoah clocked a last 600m of 32.70 and the meeting’s fastest last 200m of 11.06. And all that considering she was held up for runs until late in the straight.

We can assume she’ll find her way into the Everest soon and you’d think 1200m will be even better for her.

Headwall’s win proved he’s come back at least as well as the autumn where he record a couple of Group 1 placings at 1200m so he’s not out of place should he find an Everest slot.

His sectionals were solid, 10.59 from the 400m-200m where he chimed in and his last 200m of 11.16 for a final 600m of 32.55 are all excellent but he was overshadowed a little by the mare.

Others out of the Concorde to note were Victorian mare Tiger Shark who ran the fastest last 600m of the meeting in 32.29; Jimmysstar already has a TAB Everest slot and he finished his race off as expected running 32.46 into fifth place; and even Generosity first-up for the Waller yard went to the line hard held running 32.98 in ninth.

How do we assess Ceolwulf after he was beaten as an odds-on favourite in the Chelmsford Stakes?

First thing to note is the inch perfect front-running ride by Nash Rawiller on Lindermann – he didn’t go too slow, and he was able to make them chase by picking up the speed from the 600m.

While he ran 34.22 for his last 600m the damage was done before then.

Ceolwulf has run the fastest last 600m of the race in 33.64 and that turn of foot is still there, he’s run 11.09 from the 600m-400m and 10.93 (400m-200m) which were both clearly the race’s best.

But he found himself too far off the speed when the pace slowed a little midrace and some shuffling ahead of him pushed him a couple of pairs back. He's clearly good enough, his tendency to get too far back is working against him at the moment.

Big ticks for staying stablemates Sir Delius (33.78) and Vauban (33.84) while Birdman, not suited at weight-for-age, hit the line well after coming off Ceolwulf’s back to run 33.83.

Where Ciaron Maher points NZ Derby winner Willydoit next will be interesting after his outstanding return in the Tramway Stakes (1400m).

He drew wide so was forced to go back in a race where the first three home were the first three in the run from the jump.

He wound up midfield at the post running clearly the race’s fastest last 600m of 33.88 and last 200m of 11.39, weaving through the pack. The only horse to break 34 in the Group 2 race and by about a length.

If he can draw better second-up he’d be a live chance wherever he turns up.

It might be worth forgiving Tenbury Wells for his second last placing when resuming as a gelding in the Midway Handicap (1400m).

His run is something of a hidden effort as he’s run the third fastest last 600m of 34.26. He was angling for runs in the straight and his 400m-200m of 10.94 (race best by a length) suggest he had something to give but he raced in some restricted room home.

Pass marks, or a touch better, for Wootton Verni and Flying Bandit out of the Fitzgerald Jenkins Recruitment Handicap (1600m).

Wootton Verni has promised a bit since arriving in the Waller camp and he sprinted up strongly from the 400m-200m in 10.98 before flattening out late suggesting there’s fitness improvement to come.

Wagga Cup winner Flying Bandit, who was first-up, ran 34.31 including the fastest last 200m of 11.44 so he’s come back in good order.

Fastest last 600m: Tiger Shark 32.29

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