Race 1: Sachem & Wally West
I'm keen to follow up on these two from the opener on Saturday, starting with Sachem. First up on the weekend, the Street Boss five-year-old made his stable debut for the Clarken & O'Shea team at start 19. Heading straight back from the wide alley (10), the gelding turned a clear last when entering the straight, before looping around his rivals and closing off strongly into second. Sachem rattled off the meeting's fastest final 800m, 600m and 200m in his powerful finishing burst, running to a rating of 86 on the Racing and Sports scale, only six pounds off his peak. With improvement to come in his following runs, he will be winning very soon.
I also want to mention the return of Wally West. This four-year-old son of Rich Enuff has always shown glimpses of ability but has just struggled to put it all together. Trialling strongly with the blinkers on in readiness, the gear was finally applied first time on race day which led to Wally racing much more prominently. Just lacking a fitness edge late, Wally ran to 82 on the R&S scale, also only six pounds off his peak. With blinkers staying on and similar positive tactics applied, he too will be saluting soon.
Race 6: Foxy Cleopatra
Travelling rearward throughout in the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes, Foxy Cleopatra caught the eye late in the piece when closing off strongly into sixth, only missing the frame by 0.5L. Settling 12/16 before making the turn 16/16, the American Pharoah mare produced the meeting's fastest final 400m as John Allen weaved a nice passage between runners to the line. Only running to 97 on the R&S scale, the run was full of merit and had she drawn a better gate and took closer order earlier, I'm positive she finishes much closer. The Cummings Stakes (1600m) (Formerly R A Lee Stakes) in a fortnight's time looks the clear next step for the mare and with a peak rating of 108 - a figure she produced first up when beaten 0.8L (Yonce) in the Group 3 Carlyon Cup at Flemington, a similar effort will have her fighting out the finish.
