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It would come as some surprise if lightly raced mare Sacred Rocks doesn’t back up her impressive performance at Rosehill on Saturday with further wins given the arrogance of her second-up victory in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1300m).

It was the Ciaron Maher-trained mare’s fifth race start and she was presented with a tricky scenario when she went back worse than midfield as the leader, and main danger, Weeping Woman gained control up front.

Punter’s Intelligence data showed Sacred Rocks dashed home in 33.67 for her last 600m and she recorded the meeting’s fastest last 200m of 11.08.

And it was a sustained run over that final 400m running 10.96 from the 400m-200m and only regressing by one length for that final 200m which is a promising sign so early in her career.

The effort was highlighted by how close Weeping Woman came to stealing the race, after firing out of the stalls she led and was able to back off the tempo midrace to post a 12.23 from the 800m-600m.

Their overall time was two lengths slower than the boys’ division a few races earlier, again underlining the winner’s potential while the runner-up isn’t far off a win herself.

Of the others in the race it’d be worth forgiving Hellbent On You, who ran fifth but clocked the second fastest last 600m of 33.73. She looked to be a shade flat footed back 100m on her previous start when the sprint went on but attacked the line strongly late.

King Of Roseau finally put win number two on the board as he matched Sacred Rocks’ last 600m of 33.67 in a race, as mentioned, that was run a bit quicker early.

And he did it from last after stepping away slowly. He was going to come to the outside early in the straight but Dylan Gibbons went back inside runners to ensure clear running and the gelding exploded running easily the fastest last 200m of the race (11.19) in what was, in the end, a very soft win.

That’s more of an illustration of what he can do and it wouldn’t surprise to see him back it up.

Another to bounce back to form was Don’t Forget Jack who clearly appreciated the rise in trip into the Racing And Sports Handicap (1400m), along with a truly run race.

He’d also made a mess of the start in his previous run, when beaten favourite, but he found himself in a good spot behind that speed set by Tasoraay and was able to run 34.09 for his last 600m, about a length and a half faster than the next best.

He was a shade more dominant late running 11.53 for the final 200m and he can be followed around this distance range.

Tasoraay’s performance had merit, he ran them along at sustained sectionals for the whole journey but it proved just a touch too quick with his last 600m a full six lengths slower than the winner. He was a month between runs and there’s a win in him soon.

It’ll be interesting to see how the form out of the two-year-old event, the Chandon Handicap (1400m), holds up going forward given they ran identical time to the TAB Highway.

Hard to take anything away from the winner Queen Of Clubs who had the job of weaving through the pack from back third last on the fence on the bend and running down Regulated Affair who brought solid credentials into the race.

She’s run 34.43 for her last 600m, but it was her late strength with 11.53 for the last 200m once she balanced up that was impressive. She goes for a break with bigger targets in the spring.

Third placed Gemologist matched her final 600m of 34.43 and he had to go around them while it was a handy debut from Scoop The Pool, who looks a middle distance type, running on into fourth in 34.79 for his last 600m.

American Starlet had an interrupted run when she resumed in the Midway Handicap (1200m) so her effort to run just outside the race’s fastest last 600m with 33.59 was encouraging. There was support to say she’d run well and she’ll relish an extra furlong or so next time.

Fastest last 600m: Winning Proposal 33.36

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