Each week, Daniel O’Sullivan provides an insightful wrap-up of the top performers from The Rating Bureau’s WFA Performance Ratings across various categories. This week, Tempted made headlines by establishing herself as one of Australia’s premier sprinters with a commanding 104 rating win in the G2 Run To The Rose.
Tempted’s victory was marked by her ability to sprint rapidly off a strong tempo set by Raging Force. Her performance between the 400m and 100m marks was a testament to her exceptional talent. Competitors ahead of her lacked the class to maintain their speed, while those trailing could not match her impressive turn of foot. To contextualize her achievement, only Joliestar’s 105 in the Newmarket has rated higher in 2025. Other notable performances include Briasa’s 103.8 in the G1 TJ Smith and Private Harry’s 102.3 in the G1 Galaxy.
Autumn Boy and Autumn Glow: Rising Stars
Meanwhile, Autumn Boy delivered an outstanding performance, improving on his previous 97.4 peak to achieve a 100.4 rating, finishing second to stablemate Sixties in the G3 Ming Dynasty over 1400m. Despite giving 3.5kg to the winner, his weight-adjusted rating was superior, indicating potential for future success, particularly in the upcoming Caulfield Guineas.
Autumn Glow also solidified her reputation as a future Group 1 contender with a 104 rating win in the G2 Theo Marks Stakes. Her strong closing sectionals and overall fast time suggest she will excel over longer distances, making her a formidable competitor in the G1 Epsom Handicap.
Mr Brightside and the Challenge of Slow Tempos
In another noteworthy performance, Mr Brightside claimed his 10th Group 1 victory in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes, despite the race being run at a near barrier-trial tempo. Such slow tempos complicate assessments, as horses are pushed to their physical limits in the final 600m regardless of the early pace.
Mr Brightside ran +11.1L above standard for his final 600m, aligning with his best autumn performance of 101.9. Saturday marked the third-best 600m sprint of his career.
His competitors, Aeliana, Via Sistina, and Antino, also delivered impressive sprints, with Antino’s +11.9 carrying significant merit. Despite the slow lead-up, these performances highlight the field’s potential to perform at high levels under different conditions.
Juja Kibo and Revelare: Emerging Contenders
Juja Kibo showcased his potential by improving his positioning during the race, leading to a dominant win with a new peak rating of 97. This marked a significant improvement from his previous best of 91.3, indicating his growing prowess.
Revelare secured his Melbourne Cup spot with a victory in the G3 Archer Stakes at Flemington, raising his peak from 95 to 96.2. As an Australian-bred and trained horse, Revelare represents the type of competitor fans hope to see excel in the Cup. Although his current ratings are below the usual competitive mark, his potential remains promising, particularly if he competes in genuinely run races at 2400m or longer.
Understanding WFA Performance Ratings
WFA Performance Ratings (WPRs) offer a standardized measure of horse performance, allowing for direct comparisons regardless of age, sex, distance, or season. These ratings consider race times, sectional times, margin spread, previous ratings, and weights carried, excluding subjective factors like luck or track conditions.
The point scale per length varies slightly with distance, but as a general guide, two points equate to one length.
As we continue to follow these promising horses, the upcoming races will provide further insights into their capabilities and potential for success on the grand stage.
