Numero Uno was finally numero uno when the blinkers went on in Sunday's Class Four sprint and is clearly a horse that everyone will continue to follow, but the race probably turned up one or two more blackbookers.
One of them didn't even run, first starter Ribot Legacy who was sensationally backed from 25-1 down to under double figures before his late scratching.
An easy barrier trial winner in New Zealand in good time, Ribot Legacy had been given a quiet grounding in four local trials without being shown at his best, but he was clearly expected to run well on debut and punters will be ready when next he shows up.
Also attracting attention, after the race if not before, was northern hemisphere-bred debutant Winning Premium. Winning Premium is by a middle distance sire, Motivator, and was unwanted in the sprint, but produced the best final section in the race, and one of the better splits of the day, finishing seventh. He'll pay his way going up in distance.
Also on the radar after recent racing, but with a proviso, is Andreas Schutz-trained Gallant Triumph, who looked the biggest certainty beaten in a race with more than one of them behind I'm In Charge.
Sitting at the rear, Gallant Triumph was suited by the strong tempo and had he tracked up with cover behind Asia Rising and Club Life into the straight, he would have found clear running and won the race comfortably instead of being a flashing light third beaten half a length.
Probably what played against him was that his jockey Zac Purton had ridden Asia Rising when that horse hung out at his previous run, and was wary of committing to Asia Rising's outside when he saw it trying to run out again. But Club Life held Asia Rising in, Gallant Triumph was stuck behind them and a couple of others and the race got away from him before he got clear.
Gallant Triumph is going well enough to win a race right now, but has been unlucky several times lately, and his style attracts that, so that is the caveat.
