3 minute read

A fantastic day of racing continued to set up a tantalising Spring.

Growing Empire

Another good win by Growing Empire to take out the Poseidon Stakes, but he's just held his rating from a dominant first-up win. He went to 116 there, eased right up late, but there was no opportunity to be complacent here.

I don't think the deteriorating conditions, which they were, suited him, and I also think back to 1100m was probably against.

That said, he's still given a very smart runner up 1.5kg and come clear late. His last 400m and 200m were the fastest of the race, running his last sectional around a length faster than First Settler in second.

All that said, 116 for a Poseidon Stakes is an excellent rating. It's the equal best winning rating this century, and the best since the race has been an 1100m event. It's also the equal best winning margin for the race over 1100m, tied with September Run (rated 105) who went on to win a Coolmore.

I think a dry deck, 1200m and any sort of high pressure will only suit Growing Empire more. It's hard to see how they beat him in a Danehill, and from there I think he has to get an Everest slot.

Brightside back on song

A cracking edition of the Makybe Diva Stakes which saw Mr Brightside edge clear in his head-to-head battle with Pride Of Jenni, who looks absolutely back on track and set up the rest of the Spring.

Mr Brightside has matched his winning rating from this race last year at 125, but achieved it very differently. While last year was a complete sit and sprint, this year was a genuine tempo with Pride Of Jenni doing her usual thing out in front.

To highlight the difference in race shapes between his two wins, last year's Flemington track on this day was running around 45 pounds quicker due to the heavy track conditions, yet Mr Brightside only ran 1.54 seconds, approximately 20 pounds, quicker overall time last year.

Not that this means much, other than demonstrating that Mr Brightside is incredibly versatile, which we already knew.

Pride Of Jenni set a strong, but not unreasonable gallop. Her finishing speed was in the negative so by the numbers she has gone a touch too quickly, but that's almost better for her. She also went negative in her Queen Elizabeth win, it was just that the others were ridiculously inefficient the other way.

Not on Saturday, where Craig Williams got an outstanding tune out of Mr Brightside. You could say he Killed it…

Anyway, Mr Brightside's run to his peak rating on Saturday and will clearly be a factor in every race he contests.

Pride Of Jenni has run to a rating of 120 by Timeform's measure, the same rating she ran in the first of her big wins – the Empire Rose. Her other wins since then have gone 122, 124 and 129, so she's not quite at that level here, but a dryer deck and likely 2000m will really help her. The Cox Plate is firmly back in sights.

Via Sistina was poor. Perhaps she prefers a slower tempo, but also she probably didn't have a great grounding to run into this race. She'll improve.

Warmonger was really good late and looks right on track for a Caulfield Cup, and Antino was very game chasing the speed. He should back up in the Underwood but it appears he and Mr Brightside will go to the Feehan where he'll find it tough to turn the tables.

Run To The Rose

Perhaps the race that threw up the most questions with Traffic Warden returning with a bang first-up.

He's run to 117 with Timeform, only two pounds off his peak in the Inglis Sires before a spell.

This race is a tricky one to assess given what happened at the start. Storm Boy didn't jump well and had to work early to find the front but the overall tempo isn't that fast.

Traffic Warden was still finishing fast late to win, as was Linebacker who was very good late. It sets up a fascinating Golden Rose. Storm Boy clearly needs to jump better and get into a rhythm which seems the key to him.

He reminds me a bit of Nature Strip to some extent- not the best beginner, but a horse that when he's comfortable and running along, he's very good.

He's regressed five pounds here from his fresh win but I wouldn't be giving up on him to 1400m. Many will want to go the other way and suggest he actually wants shorter, but he's still stuck on pretty well late.

Take nothing away from Traffic Warden who was excellent, but if Storm Boy's starting longer than him on Golden Rose day, I'll be giving him another chance.