On a day of amazingly fast times Trapeze Artist still enhances his reputation
The day began with the Muswellbrook-trained gelding Nic’s Vendetta (Nicconi) bettering Deploy’s (Fastnet Rock) 1200 metre course record by 0.2 seconds in winning the Class 3 TAB Highway (1200m) in a time of 1:08.04.
That record set a record itself in soon becoming one of the shortest lived with the Mark Newnham-trained mare Anatola (More Than Ready) coming out 35 minutes later to top that by 0.1 seconds in clocking 1:08.03.
And while a number any other races went close to record time, Anatola and Trapeze Artist were the only horses to come out of day with a new course records to their credit.
The All Aged Stakes victory was Trapeze Artist’s third at Group One level and his second when superior to older rivals at weight-for-age as the colt had won the T J Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) – and become the first of his age group to do so – in winning that race at his prior start on 7 April.
On Saturday, the son of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) enjoyed a good trip in fourth place but the colt had to dig deep to defeat multiple Group One winner Le Romain (Hard Spun) by a head, which took his imposing record to six wins from 14 starts for prize money of $3,102,850.
His time of 1:20.33 for the 1400 metre journey breaking Solicit’s (Street Cry) course record of 1:20.34 by 0.1 seconds, while his sectional times were also impressive.
Trapeze Artist was clocked to run his final 1000 metres in 54.53, last 800 metres in 43.91, last 600 metres in 32.97 with his final 400 metres in 22.14. His 200 metre breakdown (from the 1000m) being: 10.62, 10.94, 10.83, 10.78 and 11.36.
While the Kris Lees-trained Le Romain, who battled strongly for second after racing outside the leader, also clocked fast closing sectionals with his final 1000 metres in 55.98, last 800 metres in 44.96, last 600 metres in 33.74 with his final 400 metres in 22.22.
It was only Le Romain’s second start this preparation and the high quality gelding is now expected to head north for the Queensland Winter Carnival where he holds bright prospects, especially in weight-for-age Group events.
Earlier in the day, the progressive Chris Waller-trained colt Higher Ground (So You Think) also laid claims for the upcoming Queensland carnival with a game performance in taking out the Frank Packer Plate (Gr 3, 2000m).
He fought gamely to defeat his more experienced stablemate Tangles (Snitzel) by a nose in a time of 2:02.33, which was one of the few races on the day that did not come close to threatening a track record, his time being well short of the 2:00.10 track record for 2000 metres.
That was more due to the moderate early tempo that saw the leaders run the first 1200 metres in only 1:16.41 (12.73 200m rate) which resulted a fast last 800 metres, the leaders clocking 45.99 (11.49 200m).
Those circumstances added to the merit of Higher Ground’s performance with the colt then returning fast closing times in coming from back in fifth place to score.
Higher Ground was timed to run his last 800 metres in 45.27, last 600 metres in 33.71 with his final 400 metres in 22.39 – times that confirm the colt is clearly a good prospect for the Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2200m) at Doomben on 9 June.
On The Watch was also taken by the effort of the John Thompson-trained gelding Primitivo (Sebring) who is still a maiden after six starts, being placed on four occasions.
Primitivo makes things difficult for himself as he lacks early pace and is often at the tail of the field and the slow early tempo added to that in the Frank Packer Plate.
He made considerable ground to finish seventh, beaten just over three lengths, without looking likely to fill any of the placings, but Primitivo clocked some of the best closing sectionals of the race with his last 1000 metres in 56.41, last 800m 44.83, last 600 metres in 33.51 with his final 400 metres in 22.51.
He too may head to Queensland and could prove a surprise packet, given the right circumstances.
The other feature racing at this time of year sees the better stakes performers head to Adelaide where last Saturday saw the running of the R N Irwin Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) as a lead up to their Autumn Carnival.
That race went to the Perth-trained mare Dainty Tess (War Chant), who was having her first run outside of her home state, and she enhanced her claims for The Goodwood (Gr 1, 1200m) on 19 May by coming with an impressive late burst to win in smart time.
Dainty Tess was still back in eighth place at the 400 metres, but she finished fast to defeat the Group One winning mare, and winner of the race last year, Viddora (I Am Invincible) by three-quarters of a length, running 1:03.53 for the 1100 metre journey.
Her closing sectional times were impressive with her final 1000 metres in 55.26, last 800 metres in 44.32, last 600 metres in 33.57 with her final 400 metres in 22.87.
While the runner up Viddora, who was having her first start since January, also returned quick closing times with her final 1000 metres in 55.04, last 800 metres in 44.32, last 600 metres in 33.71 with her final 400 metres in 23.06.
Both mares look set to be prominent again as the South Australian carnival progresses.