On The Watch

Voodoo Lad’s fast sectional times in winning Aurie’s Star suggest he should not be underrated

The seven-year-old is in peak form, winning the Sir John Monash Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) at Caulfield on July 14 three starts ago, prior to recording fast closing sectional when second to Vega Magic (Lope De Vega) in the Bletchingly Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Caulfield on July 25.

Then on Saturday, Voodoo Lad settled nicely for Damien Oliver, tracking not far from the leaders, in last place in the small seven-horse field before running on gamely to defeat well-performed UK import Home Of The Brave (Starspangledbanner) in a time of 1:09.64 on a Soft 5 track.

Home Of The Brave set the pace and after a moderate first 200 metres (from the barrier) in 14.23, his rider Damian Lane significantly lifted the tempo, with a 200 metre breakdown (from the 1000m to the 200m) of 10.76, 11.02, 10.94 and 11.02 – a very fast 800 metre section of 43.66.

It takes a good horse to come off that sort of pace, but Voodoo Lad then challenged and proved too good for Home Of The Brave, who ran a gallant race at his Australian debut, to defeat him by just under a length.

Voodoo Lad’s 200 metre breakdown (from the 1000m) was most impressive: 10.88, 10.97 (400m in 21.85), 10.71 (600m in 32.56), 10.76 (43.72) and 11.40 to give him a really fast final 1000 metre time of 54.72.

It should also be pointed out that four successive 200 metres in sub-11 seconds is noteworthy and is not often achieved.

Voodoo Lad has now raced 29 times for 12 wins, Saturday being his fourth at Group 3 level – he was also runner-up in the 2016 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and 2017 Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m).

At the Doomben meeting, the talented Ef Troop (Spirit Of Boom), who showed his quality as a two-year-old last season, resumed as the $1.45 favourite in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Handicap (1110m) and while defeated his times indicate he is still likely to be most effective this preparation.

Carrying the 60 kilogram top weight, Ef Troop was caught three wide, in fourth place from his outside barrier in a quickly run race but fought gamely for second, beaten just under a length, conceding six kilograms to the winner Mittere (Smart Missile).

Time for the 1110 metre journey was 1:03.75 (11.48 200m rate) – equivalent to 1200 metres in a fast 1:08.88 with the first 600 metres in 34.72 and the final 600 metres in 34.36 which demonstrates the smart first-up effort recorded by Ef Troop.

The main race at Rosehill on Saturday was the Rosebud (Listed, 1100m) for three-year-olds with the Brad Widdup-trained colt Sandbar (Snitzel) scoring a game win under 59 kilograms in a  promising performance at this first run this preparation.

After a quick beginning, Sandbar had a good trip in fourth place and then dug deep to narrowly defeat Charge (Zoustar) and Golden Tycoon (Hussonet), a pair he conceded six kilograms.

Time for the 1100 metre distance was 1:05.02 (11.82 200m rate), equivalent to 1200 metres in 1:10.93, which is not a fast overall time but the race did feature some quick mid-race sections.

The lightly-raced colt Golden Tycoon, a winner of his only start in a Two-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1200m) at Canterbury on July 25, showed his potential in holding on so well for a close-up third after setting a fast speed that saw the 800 metres (from the 1000m to the 800m) clock 44.68.

That resulted in a number of runners clocking fast closing times for their final 1000 metres, the quickest being the fourth-placed Plague Stone (Lonhro) in 56.48, who was beaten less than a length after being trapped wide.

Others to return fast times for their final 1000 metres were Outrageous’s (All Too Hard) 56.60 in running seventh, sixth-placed Eclectic’s (Excelebration) 56.62 and the winner Sandbar who ran 56.67.

In the final event, the Chris Waller-trained four-year-old Paret (Harbour Watch) looked impressive in coming from back in ninth place to easily win the Benchmark 81 (1350m), an effort that many claimed as a pointer to his prospects for the upcoming Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m).

However, On The Watch felt that Paret’s overall time of 1:21.44 was disappointing.

That represented a 200 metre rate of only 12.06, equivalent to 1400 metres in 1:24.45, the first 800 metres in a moderate 49.66 with the leaders running 34.79 for the sprint home for the 600 metres.

Paret therefore returned a quick 34.01 for his last 600 metre and 22.54 for his final 400 metres – fast closing times that are more achievable when coming off a moderate early pace.

Those factors suggest that Paret needs to confirm his quality not only when racing against stronger company than Saturday’s Benchmark 81 but also in a truly run race before he should be regarded as a potential Group One winner.

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