We give you an in-depth look at a few key runners from a times perspective from the weekend with the Pace Report.
CAULFIELD Saturday- 29/11
Race 2- Simply Steffi 7th (Navy Blue, Green and White Silks)
Might have finished 7th but was a good run when looking at the sectionals. She ran the quickest 400-200m of the race when running 11.24 seconds (9th fastest 400-200m split of the meeting) and showed she has a good turn of speed. Unfortunately, she was just too far back to get into the race and peaked on her inside the final 200m.
Verdict: One to watch next start as may get a big price.
Race 3- Skipper’s Canyon 4th (Blue, Gold Hoops, White Sleeves)
This guy may have bombed the start and made it impossible to win but his late splits were extremely good. He ran his last 200m in 11.64 seconds (3rd quickest Last 200m of the entire day) and last 400m in 23.48 seconds. He covered his last 200m 1.5 lengths faster than anything else in the race.
Verdict: Big effort indicating his clear talent, but his barrier manners continue to let him down. Impressive finish on him, don’t give up on him yet.
Race 10- Big Swinger 3rd (Navy Blue, Pink Silks)
On face value nothing all that flash about this performance beaten a big margin into 3rd, however he was only 2nd up here and was up to 1400m
This race was run slowly early and then was a building gallop from the 800m with Here To Shock really ramping up under Mark Zahra to make it a sustained burn home. I don’t think that suited Big Swinger at his stage of preparation and after a strong 600-400m split of 11.33 seconds (3rd quickest of the race), he struggled to finish off just battling running 12.50 seconds for his last 200m which was nearly the race slowest.
The big acceleration mid race though suggests the talent is there and either that he wasn’t comfortable in the ground to fully follow through late or he wasn’t fit enough to sustain the run.
Verdict: Market has been keen on this horse in both runs back, give him another go 3rd up when his fitter.