Spieth Provides A Last Race Sectional Times Highlight At Randwick
After being a clear last in the 16-horse field following a bad beginning, the race was taken out in brilliant fashion by lightly raced four-year-old Spieth (Thorn Park).
He staged a remarkable recovery to win, running brilliant sectional times in the process.
After angling into clear running, Spieth was still back in ninth place at the 200 metres. He then quickened impressively to lead at the 100 metres and went on to win by three quarters of a length from another late-closer, the Team Hawkes-trained Kaepernick (Fastnet Rock).
Timed from the 1000 metre point, Spieth returned 200 metre sections of 10.56, 10.77 (400m in 21.33), 11.10 (600m in 32.43), 10.95 (800m in 43.38) and 11.40 for an outstanding final 1000 metre time of 54.78.
Handled patiently by Warwick Farm trainer Bryce Heys, Spieth was having only his eighth start and it was his fifth win and first start since after winning a Three-Year-Old Handicap (1100m) at Flemington in June.
And with the Melbourne Cup Carnival about to commence it would seem likely that connections will again look for a suitable race there for Spieth, and his times would suggest that he will prove effective again, despite stepping up further in class.
The runner-up Kaepernick, a lightly raced and talented five-year-old, could also be headed to Melbourne and he too returned exceptional sectional times, clocked in running on from back in 15th place.
Timed from the 1000 metres, Kaepernick returned 200 metre sections of 10.87, 10.99 (400m in 21.86), 10.93 (600m in 32.79), 10.63 (800m in 43.42) with his final 200 metres in 11.35 for an impressive last 1000 metre time of 54.77.
A little earlier in the Randwick program, the Garry Frazer-trained filly Spright (Hinchinbrook) also impressed on the watch in coming from near last to win the Brian Crowley Stakes (Listed, 1200m) and she is now likely to be headed to Flemington.
Sitting back off a hectic pace that saw the 1200 metre journey run in a fast 1:08.79, Spright also returned fast closing sectional times with her last 1000 metres in 55.07, last 800 metres in 44.55, last 600 metres in 33.98 with her final 200 metres in 22.95.
It was Spright’s second win in a seven-start career in which she has only missed a place once.
“I think we may go to the fillies’ race (Red Roses Stakes, (Gr 3, 1100m)) on Oaks Day. I think she will love that down the straight,” Frazer said after the win.
The highlight of last weekend’s racing was naturally the Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) with victory going to the Ciaron Maher-trained mare Jameka (Myboycharlie) who staged a strong staying effort to score in quick time.
After an ideal run in fifth place, Jameka won decisively by three lengths in a time of 2:28.88, which is a very good 12.40 seconds 200 metre rate for the 2400 metre distance, with the pace solid for most of the way.
Jameka also ran most of the fastest closing sectional times of the race, with her last 1200 metres clocking 1:12.71, last 1000 metres 59.87, last 800 metres 47.20, last 600 metres 35.47, last 400 metres 23.61 with her final 200 metres in 12.05.
The only quicker times of those various sectionals recorded in the Caulfield Cup was recorded by the third-placed Exospheric (Beat Hollow) who clocked 1:12.50 for his last 1200 metres and 59.80 for his last 1000 metres in a promising effort at his first Australian start.
Another very noteworthy effort on the watch at Caulfield were the times recorded in the Coongy Cup (Gr 3, 2000m), which was run in the very solid time of 2:02.17 (12.13 200m rate) despite the difficult windy head-on conditions in sections of the track.
The race was won in good style by the Chris Waller-trained four-year-old Vanbrugh (Encosta De Lago) who had the ability to come off that strong pace to win well, clocking 1:00.95 for his final 1000 metres.
But probably the best run of the race was by Tom Melbourne (Dylan Thomas), who settled better following gear changes, but he had the task of chasing the front-running The Cleaner (Savoire Vivre) who was responsible for the first 1400 metres clocking a quick 1:24.97.
The other impressive sectional times performance was by the remarkable eight-year-old gelding Our Boy Malachi (Top Echelon) who took his record to 19 wins from 26 starts with a brilliant last-to-first effort in the Caulfield Sprint (Gr 2, 1000m).
Clocked from the 800 metres, Our Boy Malachi returned 200 metre sections of 10.90, 11.08 (400m in 21.98), 10.76 (600m in 32.74) with his final 200 metres in 11.26 for a very fast last 800 metre time of 44.00.
Another impressive effort in the race was the performance of multiple Group One winner Lankan Rupee (Redoute’s Choice), the 61 kilos top weight who was having his first start in 12 months.
Fighting on strongly after being handy all the way, Lankan Rupee held on bravely for third, running fast sectionals with his final 800 metres clocking 44.40, last 600 metres 33.74, last 400 metres 22.79 and final 200 metres 11.69.
The now seven-year-old is far from a spent force and his performance suggests he is still capable of being effective at the highest level.