New Plymouth October 24

 

 

This filly by Shocking has now had two starts for two fourths, and this effort was a big step up from her debut back in July. She settled near the tail of the field and came widest around the home turn as she made her run, finishing strongly down the straight to get to within 1.9 lengths of the winner. She ran the fastest last 800m, 600m and 200m in the race.

 

 

Ellerslie October 25

 

 

Now a runner-up on three occasions in a five-start career, she was held up in the early part of the straight. By the time she finally got clear, there was only about 200m to run and the impressive winner Belle Cheval was off and gone. But Miss Parker finished the race off strongly for second, running the second-best late sectionals in the race. She doesn’t need to improve much to win next time.

 

 

Riccarton October 25

 

 

This was a big effort by the maiden three-year-old in the War Decree Stakes. Drawn the outside gate in a field of 10, he took up a position in fourth-last before warming up out wide in the home straight. He charged home in the fastest last 400m and 200m of the race, finishing second. He was beaten by a nose by Origin Of Love.

 

 

Trentham October 26

 

 

Never closer than three wide and covered a fair bit of ground, and also did things wrong and drifted to the outside down the straight. Despite all this, the Derryn mare found the line strongly for fourth and clocked the equal fastest last 200m of the race.