There’s a good chance the two-year-old race that opened Saturday’s Randwick meeting will produce a few handy ones and while he was an outsider Providence suggested he has a future with an eye-catching debut.
The Chris Waller trained son of Wootton Bassett was a $625,000 purchase and has obviously taken some time given the several trials that preceded him stepping out for the first time.
Punter’s Intelligence data showed Providence ran the fastest last 600m of 36.94, and last 200m of 12.71, as he charged into third in the Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation Handicap (1200m).
The winner Agarwood, now unbeaten after two starts, controlled the race from the front and put the race away sprinting 11.94 from the 400m-200m, that effort probably told in the heavy ground as her last 200m of 13.07 is quite a large drop off.
Wouldn’t be giving up on Regulated Affair, who ran fourth and was ed late by Providence.
He looked a little one paced at the 1200m as he ran some consistent sectionals in the low 12s before a last 200m of 12.80 which was second only to his stablemate. More ground is likely his go.
If there’s one thing we know about Joe Pride’s honest gelding Testator Silens it’s that he isn’t a 1000m horse so for him to run so well second-up at that trip bodes well for his next few starts.
He’s run sixth behind stablemate Storm The Ramparts and was only getting warm at the finish. Outpaced early, he ran 35.73 for his last 600m which was the second fastest of the race and the fastest last 200m of 12.47.
The gelding had 61.5kg and was dropping from 1100m first-up, where he also closed nicely, but his best form is around the 1400m trip. A win isn’t far off especially if he strikes another soft or heavy track.
Grand Larceny produced the meeting’s fastest last 600m of 35.63 as he ran home into second. While he was ahead of Testator Silens in the run he was too far back to run the winner down even considering his slick 11.45 (600m-400m) and 11.54 (400m-200m) sections.
The Charity Challenge over the 1600m looked hard work to the eye and the sectionals backed that view up, the winner Hollywood Hero was one of only two horses to break 40 seconds for the last 600m as he ran 39.42 to win.
The first 800m of the race was run in 50.91 which was faster than any race on the day at 1400m or above or that section, and that was due to Nellie Leylax and Cool Jakey jostling for the lead.
Nellie Leylax was on his Australian debut and from the 1400m-1200m he’s run 11.63 with Cool Jakey alongside him running 11.73 to make the race a test.
To hold on for third and second respectively, particularly as Cool Jakey was considered a risk at a strong mile, means their runs were full of merit - but what will it take out of them for next time?
It’s worth a look at the final two races, both over 1400m, and you’d have to give the honours to Miss Kim Kar.
She’s managed to loop them from near last behind a speed some three lengths slower to the 600m, compared to Spione a race earlier, and sprinted home considerably faster with faster overall time as well.
The mare clocked 37.55 for her last 600m compared to Spione’s 38.02 with a last 200m of 12.93 vs 13.29.
She was only third-up and has the scope to get out to a mile.
Fastest last 600m: Grand Larceny 35.63.
Watch Punter’s Intelligence at 7pm on Tuesdays on Sky Thoroughbred Central.