Latest News

There was no more visually impressive win at Randwick on Saturday than that by It’s A Knockout and the Ciaron Maher-trained mare had the clock to back her up.

Not only did she put over four lengths on her opposition in the Traffic Warden @ Darley Handicap but the 1400m was run two lengths faster than the Listed feature of the day, the Civic Stakes.

The latter race was run fairly quickly early, they were more than three lengths quicker by the 600m mark, but significantly slower for their last 200m.

Overall, Punter’s Intelligence data showed It’s A Knockout stopped the clock at 1.22.65 while Headley Grange’s winning time in the Civic was 1.22.98.

The mare was first-up and she found a spot one off the fence as they ran along at still a decent enough tempo. She cruised to the leaders running 11.38 from the 400m-200m then produced the race’s fastest last 200m of 11.82, clearly the only horse to break 12 seconds.

She’s yet to win second-up but both second-up performances have been solid including at Group 3 level last time in. It’ll be interesting to see if she can lift off this when she next steps out, likely not for a few weeks at least.

Behind her, the second-up run by King Ratel didn’t go unnoticed. He’s on his way back after a two year absence and he’s run the fastest last 600m of the race in 34.62 as he ran fifth.

He had quite the checkered passage late which explains the big drop off in his last 200m, from a race best 11.13 (400m-200m) to a last 200m of 12.27. Might be just about ready now.

Out of the Civic Stakes, it was a comfortable win by Headley Grange but there were a few chasing him home that suggested they be kept an eye on.

Runner-up Welwal can be a bit of a tease but he’s posted a race best 34.90 for his last 600m and he matched Green Shadows for the fastest last 200m of 12.30. The latter’s final 600m was only 0.01 outside that race best sectional.

Time Quest found the line with purpose late first-up to be just behind Green Shadows, he’s run 35.20 for his last 600m but was just outside the race’s fastest 400m-200m running 11.37.

There’ll be winners coming out of the TAB Highway in the coming weeks and while he was a beaten favourite on Saturday it was hard not to like Exit Fee’s return.

He probably found himself a pair further back than ideal and had to wait to get across heels and into the clear but he’s still run 34.32 to own the fastest last 600m. He’s a horse that has a profile of improving with racing too.

Show 'Em Howl was right behind him with a 34.33 final 600m in his first-up fourth placing, where he clocked the race’s best last 200m of 11.46. A lightly raced type right on the up.

Tommy Berry would have been giggling to himself with the run in front She’s Unusual was afforded in winning the Elite Sand & Soil Handicap over the 1800m.

By comparison with the other race over that trip, won by Quantum Cat, she’s run just under 18 lengths slower for her first 1000m in 1:06.06 (Walking Painting led the other in 1:03.26).

Given the mare has broken 34 seconds for her last 600m (33.98) it was going to be impossible to beat her, especially as the placegetters chasing her were producing similar sectionals.

She’s Unusual has run a final 200m of 11.50 – the fastest last 200m in the final race run over 1200m was 11.56 and as mentioned the Highway’s fastest last 200m was 11.46.

So all that said Millie De Lune has gone enormous to finish in fourth place, she’s clocked a 33.49 final 600m as she charged home from last but the winner had it far too easy up front.

Godolphin filly Amusing posted the fastest last 600m of the Quayclean Handicap (1300m) as she hit the line nicely into fifth when resuming.

She’s run 34.25, her 400m-200m of 10.95 was a standout there and she will improve further up in distance.

Fastest last 600m: Lonhro’s Queen 32.83

Watch Punter’s Intelligence at 7pm on Tuesdays on Sky Thoroughbred Central.

Click here to download the free Punter's Intelligence app