Stephen Hunt runs the numbers from Whanganui and Ellerslie
Stephen Hunt • April 8th, 2025 3:52 PM • 4 min read
WHANGANUI
Speed Ratings
How the track played…
There were four leaders that won, with winners coming as far back as 3.2L (Cooper) off the leader at the 600m mark.
Winners were in lanes 5,3,8,11,10,11,11,11.
Advantage was to be within 3L of the lead in the run - or closer - and 2- 3 off fence in run, with a tendency for winners to get further out in the straight.
I Am Nutz delivered a solid performance to win the opener at Whanganui for the three-year-olds over 1350m, posting a career-best 89.7 rating. While he remains just a step below the better autumn three-year-olds, who will run 93+ in the upcoming Cambridge Breeders, his ability to keep improving is noteworthy. This latest win marks another peak, up from his previous 78.5 rating, signalling that he is still on an upward trajectory. His steady progress suggests there is more to come.
He’s A Doozy turned back the clock with an emphatic win in the Open 1600m. Not only was this his first win since March 2024 (13 starts), but he exploded to a new peak rating of 96, a significant leap from his previous best of 93.7 when winning the Group 1 Thorndon Mile in 2023, a rare feat for a horse that is a rising eight-year-old.
Sitting outside the leader at a moderate early speed, it was He’s A Doozy’s sharp acceleration in the final 400m that saw him pull away to a dominant 3 length margin at the finish.
Khafre was excellent in defeat, posting a 91.2 rating, which was just shy of his peak 91.4 win in last year’s Matamata Cup over 1600m.
Val Di Zoldo returned to the winner’s circle after a long run of outs, her last victory coming 766 days ago in the Lowland Stakes as a filly. She prevailed in a photo finish over Nigella Lane, who was very unlucky after being held up at a crucial stage. The race was heavily influenced by a slow pace to the 800m mark, followed by just an even tempo to the 400m, with the final section being the fastest of the race with just 0.6 lengths separating the first four horses. The measures on the clock from this race and compressed margins resulted in a 90 rating for Val Di Zoldo, which is only 0.5 lengths off her career peak but moderate in the context of the history of this race. The last three winners have rated higher: Apostrophe (95), Aromatic (91.1) and Charms Star (92).
ELLERSLIE
Sacred Satono had no easy task with 60kg, but he was suited sitting back off a fast speed set by Bak Da Angel in the 1300m contest and impressed in the way he came from 6.7 lengths off the lead at the 600m mark, running above average sectionals from that point to win. His 96.5 rating sits just below his two peaks of 97, which came in wins at Ellerslie over 1200m and the Counties Bowl over 1100m in November 2023.
You Say D'Orsay did a tremendous job to only go down a short margin after sitting wide for the trip, working forward without cover at different times in a strongly run race. His performance was better than the narrow losing margin reads, and with a more economical trip, there’s no doubt that he rates higher. The Easter Handicap over 1600m on 19th April looks an ideal target if connections head that way.
Click here to read Stephen Hunt's article where he describes how the Speed Ratings (WFA Performance Ratings) are compiled
