Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Day two of the Championships on Saturday was a revealing one; unbeaten records fell, blistering sectionals were set, and some runners confirmed they could continue to stretch. With several stars, including G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes victor Sir Delius (GB) (Frankel {GB}), headed to the paddock to reload ahead of the spring, who has Nic Ashman most excited for next preparation?
The best WFA horse in the land
Sir Delius smashed both Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) and the clock when taking out Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.
A brutal tempo set by Light Infantry Man (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}) saw them hammer through the first 1400 metres around 11 lengths above standard. It meant Autumn Glow had to run her first section speed faster than any run this preparation, while attempting a new distance.
Let’s break that down: Autumn Glow averaged 12.22s and 12.23s per 200-metre split to the 600-metre mark in the G2 Apollo Stakes and George Ryder respectively, before going slower in her wind up in the G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes.
Last weekend, she averaged 12.08s per 200 metres for the first 1400 metres of the Queen Elizabeth - and it broke her. Her effort to run third was huge. This was the highest rated 2000-metre race since Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) won the G1 Cox Plate in 2024.
Sir Delius proved he was the best WFA horse in the land with this performance. His rating after the race is supreme and it leaves you wondering what might have been last spring. The son of Frankel (GB) was removed from the Cox Plate and G1 Melbourne Cup after failing the mandatory pre-race scans, and sent for a spell.
Sir Delius (GB) winning the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
He is now the $4 favourite for the Cox Plate this year and my early guess is he’ll start shorter. Connections have indicated that it is unlikely he will target the Melbourne Cup again.
Everest round two for Tempted?
Tempted (Street Boss {USA}) would have been the star at Randwick on Saturday if it hadn’t been for Sir Delius. She clocked a scintillating 1.08:00s for the G2 Arrowfield 2YO Sprint; that is electric and it is the fastest finish we have for the 1200-metre 3-year-old feature in our database.
It is a shame that stud potential comes first, because she would have been a force in the G1 TJ Smith Stakes a week earlier with this rating.
That said, a return to the G1 Everest beckons for her in the spring for redemption against Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}). It is worth noting that her winning time last Saturday was faster than last year’s Everest.
The official track rating was the same for both meetings, but our database suggests that last weekend played around half a rating quicker, which makes sense with her time.
Tempo is the race maker
Sticking with the 3-year-olds, Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) proved the superior stayer in the G1 Australian Oaks. It’s clear that the sit and sprint nature of her only Aussie lead-up, the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes, didn’t suit her.
The market gravitated towards her late ahead of Saturday, suggesting it was pinning that her G1 New Zealand Oaks win was the right form for another Oaks tilt. A finish around two lengths inside standard time off a solid tempo shows Ohope Wins benefited from the 2400-metre run earlier in her prep.
Beskar (Snitzel) won a leisurely edition of the Listed South Pacific Classic over 1400 metres. He led at an even clip, but the structure of 1400-metre races at headquarters means that if they don’t go quick, the backmarkers struggle to make up ground. That’s because a larger portion of the race is spent turning when compared to other race starting points, thus those that can lead on a moderate tempo have a distinct advantage.
On the topic of tempo, Idle Flyer (Dundeel {NZ}) won the G1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes by chomping up the fast tempo set by Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai).
They were nine lengths ahead of standard time at the 600 metres and still finished two lengths in front at the post. It gives Matthew Smith every right to test his mare over further, so expect to see her in the G2 Hollindale Stakes or G1 Doomben Cup next month.
In Flight (Flying Artie) reeled off the fifth fastest last 200 metres of the day when taking out the G2 Sapphire Stakes. She wouldn’t be out of place in the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes in 10 days’ time.
The juveniles
Diameter (Brazen Beau), a half to Darley stallion Cylinder, took out the Listed Fernhill Handicap, which rated only fairly. He was held up early before sprinting home; it was the kind of race that suited runners with a turn of foot or sitting near speed.
Sumac (Farnan) was untested and looked unlucky when finishing eighth, while Universe (Pierro) was warming up late. He may just need a more high pressure race or a longer trip.
Cherry Bombshell (Lucky Vega {Ire}) won the G2 Percy Sykes Stakes. It was evenly run with no bias from energy use, and most runners had their chance. Medicinal (Brazen Beau) didn’t run the 1200 metres out, she likely improves if dropping back to 1000 metres, but she may need a break now.
Ones to watch
The two horses to follow from the South Pacific are Regal Award (Ole Kirk) - sixth fastest last 400 metres of the day - and Autumn King (The Autumn Sun) - seventh fastest last 200 metres of the day. It was simply mathematically impossible for either to win this race.
We have two previous blackbookers running this Saturday at Randwick; King’s Secret (Shalaa {Ire}) runs in the G3 Hall Mark Stakes and Matias (Snitzel) in the G3 Frank Packer Plate.
The feature on this Saturday's card is the G1 All Aged Stakes. If James McDonald rides Fangirl (Sebring), then she goes on top of my list, but I am wary that Beiwacht (Bivouac) might get a soft lead and prove hard to run down.
There is also Half Yours (St Jean {Ire}) to keep an eye on. He might be a coveted Cups winner, but he has shown a WFA turn of foot multiple times throughout his career.
