Tap O Noth (speed figure 109) is a physically imposing specimen and he produced a towering performance to win the Grade 1 Cape Guineas, despite starting from a wide draw. He swept into the lead at around the 300m mark then held off White River (s/s 108) Like a Panther (s/s 106) and Cot Campbell (s/s 106) in a true run race. Wonderwall and Pack Leader scored 105’s with Rocket Countdown’s 102 being close to his Selangor number. The Guineas nearly always proves a significant showdown and all these quality three-year-olds should enjoy highly productive careers.

Milton (s/s 105) is one of the toughest horses in the country to get past when able to shake loose on the lead. He staved off Last Winter (s/s 105 +) powerful stretch run to win the Grade 2 Premier Trophy. The second horse is on track for a tilt at the Met – with further improvement likely over the longer route, Last Winter rates a principal contender for that contest.

“Pace makes the race” is an old racing adage. In the Grade 3 Victress Stakes, a slow early tempo played in favour of handily placed Star Express (s/s 92 +) who skipped clear to win as a long-shot. Another outsider to race quite handy, Premier Dance got second, ahead of Nightingale who took a long while to get underway and should peak for her next start.

Star Express is very talented on her day, yet is prone to inconsistency due to either blowing the start or pulling hard. The mare has menaced Bela Bela, Just Sensual and Nightingale before in races at this class level, so was entitled to more respect in the betting market, but punters were caught looking the other way, perhaps because she had not won in 686 days. Nobody said this is an easy game!