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There were so many factors around Skyhook’s first-up win in the Rosebud that should have connections excited for what might be ahead in his three-year-old season.

All the talk in the lead up was that he was giving away fitness, and weight with his 60.5kg impost, and that he’d be vulnerable but it didn’t matter as he sizzled in what was an authoritative win in the 1100m Listed feature from Rosehill.

Add to that, Punter’s Intelligence data showed he recorded the meeting’s fastest last 600m as he ran 34.15 sweeping home from last of the six runners and reeling in the race fit Grand Prairie.

Kerrin McEvoy made his move coming to the 600m as he ran 11.34 from the 600m-400m to put him in touch then 11.17 (400m-200m) and the race’s best last 200m (by a length) in 11.64.

The overall time compared pretty well to the only other 1100m race on the card, for Benchmark 78 horses, being 0.10 slower and considering the three-year-olds were a lot slower in the first half of the race it adds merit to Skyhook’s win.

We’re not likely to see the colt again until the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) in a month where he’ll link up with his peers on a Golden Rose path and he’ll have some fitness up his sleeve there.

Arguably the most eye-catching run of the day came from Group 1 winning stayer Land Legend who was first-up under 61kg in the Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m).

Despite his $81 starting price he’s run a slick final 600m of 34.25, second only to Skyhook on the day, and his last 200m of 11.35 was among the fastest of the meeting for that section too.

All from a horse who generally doesn’t get warm until he hits 2000m.

So he’s going to be interesting to assess from a next start perspective as he’s unplaced in all four second-up attempts but he hasn’t put in that sort of fresh effort in his two previous first-up runs for Chris Waller at a mile or under.

Stablemate Birdman ran right up to his barrier trial as he finished second to War Eternal in that race with both horses clocking 34.47 for their last 600m.

He hadn’t raced since the Sydney Cup and it was his first start below a mile so he’s another to be wary of next time, though he might be a little sharper this time around and was runner-up at 2000m second-up in the autumn.

There’s a win coming up shortly for Convergent when he steps up in distance after closing off for third in the Midway Handicap (1500m) in strong fashion.

He’s run the fastest last 600m of 35.66 and last 200m of 12.09 in what was a return to the sort of form expected of him and when he gets out to 1800m or so next time he should be a force.

The Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1300m) wasn’t short on horses to follow and while from a sectional perspective the winner Ninja put in some of the slowest late splits the fact he was able to hold on after working hard early is where the merit sits.

He’s run 11.48 from the 1200m-1000m and 11.96 from the 1000m-800m and didn’t get much of a breather when he finally assumed control as he had to pick up again and run 11.54 from the 600m-400m.

Not surprisingly he’s run the second slowest last 600m of 35.28.

The runner-up Without Peer ran right up to his promising debut effort in almost snatching victory, he’s run a race best last 200m of 11.86 to just miss.

Karinska, who finished fifth, ran the fastest last 600m of the race in 34.40 and was only 0.01 outside the fastest last 200m so she’s made a pleasing return.

There’s likely a forgive run from Captain Furai in the Precise Air Handicap (1400m) as he was in foreign territory back near last in a race controlled up front by the winner Fully Lit.

While beaten six lengths, the gelding has run the fastest last 600m of 34.73 to run into sixth placing and given he usually races handy to the speed he could easily bounce back with a better scenario.

Lord Penman was making his local debut for Chris Waller in the closer, the Petaluma Handicap (1200m), and posted the fastest last 600m of 34.37 as he closed in strongly to run second.

Fastest last 600m: Skyhook 34.15.

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