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Front-runners that can maintain their leading positions
in slow pace throughout the race are able to save their
energy for a late burst. However, runners that lag behind
early have to run even faster than those in front if they
want to catch up from the back. It is difficult for late
finishers to catch the front-runners if the latter can maintain
a high speed in the final stages. For instance, front-runners
that finish the final 400 metres in 23.5 seconds can only
be caught if late finishers, which are behind by five lengths
in the last 400 metres, can finish in 22.5 seconds or less.
If the late finishers cannot reach that speed, usually they
cannot win.
 The
Kagoshima Handicap, a 1800-metre Class 2 race, held at Sha
Tin on 13 October 2001 best illustrates that front-runners
are suitable for slow run races. In this race, Turbojet
led and covered the first 1400 metres in as slow as 1.26.3
minutes. However, he finished the final 400 metres in just
22.7 seconds. Luckswell, another usual front-runner, had
also taken advantage of the slow pace of the race and took
the second place. Very few horses can finish the last 400
metres of a 1800-metre race in less than 22.5 seconds. Therefore
Equikit, which caught up from the back, performed brilliantly
in that race and took third place, losing by just a head.
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