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The inaugural running of the $500,000 The Coast saw a return to form by Group 2 winner Brandenburg but it highlighted the potential in third placed Brutality.

Punter’s Intelligence sectional data showed Brutality clocked easily the fastest last 600m of the 1600m feature running 34.91 as he charged from last and it was a sustained run too.

He took off fairly early running 11.99, second fastest, from the 800m-600m then picked it up with race best splits all the way home – 11.88 (600m-400m), 11.43 (400m-200m) and 11.60 (last 200m).

That last 200m was the meeting’s fastest.

Whether he was aided by the wet track remains to be seen next time he steps out on dry ground but in similar conditions he proved he’s capable – he carried a 78 rating into The Coast which is 21 points less than the winner and went down by half a length.

All honours must go to Brandenburg for the win, though, he covered more ground than any other horse, an extra 16m, and while sectionally he didn’t stand out he did produce consistent figures.

His last 600m was 35.32, third best in the race, and he broke 12 seconds for the final three 200m splits clocking 11.95 (600m-400m), 11.58 (400m-200m) and 11.79 (last 200m) so all things considered his was a comprehensive win.

Easily the most explosive performance at Gosford came from the Chris Waller-trained Blondeau in winning a 1200m Benchmark 78 at his first run since February.

It could be a turning point for the three-year-old, who has promised a bit, but it’ll also now be up to him to reproduce.

Blondeau recorded the meeting’s fastest last 600m of 34.40 as he raced right away from his seven rivals, appreciating a solid tempo up front.

His Benchmark 78 race was run in 1:10.66, a time that’s six lengths faster than the sprint feature Takeover Target Stakes (1:11.67).

The time was set up early with the first 600m run in 35.48, easily the fastest of the five 1200m events on the program. The same section in the Takeover Target was run in 36.36 (the slowest of the five 1200m races).

The gelding is adept in rain affected ground but he also has a strong second-up record so he can be expected to hold his form.

Enchanted Heart had the race run to suit her in winning the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m), she camped behind the moderate tempo and was able to outsprint them running 34.86 for her last 600m.

She put the race away with a race best 11.35 from the 400m-200m and to top it off she covered more ground (+6.8m) than the five rivals.

There was merit in the run of Signore Fox in fourth place, his best form is on top of the ground but he’s clearly racing very well as he clocked the race’s fastest last 200m of 11.72 and was only 0.05 off the winner’s final 600m.

He conceded a few lengths to Enchanted Heart before the turn and given the way the race was run it was impossible to run her down.

Considering the overall times, there has to merit in the win of Overpass in the Central Coast Granite Handicap (1200m) with his time of 1:11.64 matching up very well with the feature sprint.

He raced wide, covering 6.5m more than the runner-up Conexy, and still clocked the second fastest last 600m of 35.34 which was just shy of Conexy's 35.28 race best.

April Rain was a beaten favourite in the Brook Group Handicap (1200m) to round out the program but under the circumstances of that race she should lose no admirers.

While the field did string out a bit the leaders weren’t going as hard as it looked as the first 600m was run in 36.19 and the overall time of 1:12.22 was the slowest of the 1200m races.

That said April Rain was forced to take off early, she ran 11.21 from the 800m-600m but still found herself nearer last than first when the sprint went on. She posted the fastest last 600m of 35.07, almost a length and a half faster than the winner Stellar Pauline.

From the TAB Highway, Mr Wong will attract plenty of admirers after a sizzling finish where his last 600m of 35.42 was over three lengths faster than the next best and he was the only horse to get anywhere near breaking 12 seconds with his 11.79 just under three lengths faster.

Fastest last 600m: Blondeau 34.40

Watch Punter’s Intelligence with Ben Way, Brad Davidson and Brad Gray at 7pm on Tuesday on Sky Thoroughbred Central.

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