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It may have looked easy to the eye but there was so much more merit in the win of promising import Wicklow at Rosehill on Saturday than appears at face value.

Punter’s Intelligence sectional data reveals just how slowly the 1800m three-year-old event was run, particularly compared to the Benchmark 94 later in the day, and that’s what highlights Wicklow’s performance.

The leader, and eventual runner-up, Too Much Caviar had an absolute picnic in front. He ran the first 1000m in 1:05.60, some 10 lengths slower than Monsieur Sisu over the same trip, and was able to get away with a 13.20 (1200m-1000m) and 13.30 (1000m-800m) in the middle stages.

At the 500m Wicklow was some 11m off the leader and he reeled off easily the race’s best last 600m of 34.03 (two and a half lengths faster than the next best), most of that came in bridging the gap.

He ran an 11.26 (600m-400m) and 11.17 (400m-200m), the fastest of the race, and a second best last 200m of 11.60.

The overall time was six lengths slower than the Benchmark 94 but they are three-year-olds and Wicklow only turned three at the end of March so he has so much upside and there’s no reason he can’t keep winning.

Out of the Precise Air Handicap (1800m) the effort of Monsieur Sisu was noteworthy considering he was unable to get a breather but was still able to hang on for third behind Mubariz.

He ran the fastest 1200m-1000m of 12.71 to retain the lead when Spencer made a midrace move three wide, Spencer ran 12.61 from the 1000m-800m, and that kept the pace on.

That allowed Mubariz to sweep home and he did that with a 11.67 from the 400m-200m and his last 200m of 12.26 was 0.01 outside the race’s best.

The John O’Shea-trained greys Berdibek and La Grisa were far from disgraced in running sixth and ninth respectively after going back from wide gates. La Grisa produced the race’s fastest last 600m of 35.51 while Berdibek was next best with 35.60.

There might be some form come out of the TAB Highway (1100m) won by Distillate who scored a tough all the way win.

Third placed Anethole, a runner from last year’s The Kosciuszko, caught the eye as he made sharp ground along the inside producing a race best 34.05 for his last 600m in a return to form.

Don’t write off Patino Ruby who was wide (with some cover) before making a run down the outside, which didn’t seem to be the best place in the short course events, clocking a 34.31 last 600m and a race best 11.43 for the last 200m.

And Poita might have been a $101 chance but he came from last down the outside and ran 10.96 from the 400m-200m and a last 600m of 34.12 in running ninth. Perhaps he can go back to the country and win.

Also worth noting:

Raging Bull hit the line with a race best 11.74 for his last 200m on debut in the two-year-old event.

Tycoonist again showed he’s in top form with a slashing 34.91 for his last 600m including a race best 12.01 last 200m in running third after getting back to last early.

Fastest last 600m: Lucicello 33.51

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

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