THIS week, the first day of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York comes under sharp focus.

With the latest heatwave banished, the Knavesmire was treated to rain in the lead up to the meeting including on the day of racing, which saw the ground ease to an official description of Good (Good to Soft in places).

The data concurs with the official description, with relatively low time index scores, that suggests that the addition of Good to Soft in places to the going description prior to the first was a correct and timely intervention from the York executive.

The Time Index scores are detailed below, and it is worth remembering that, if the ground was riding Good, we would expect scores to be in the region of 5.5 - 6.0. Anything lower suggests the ground was easier.

The ground is best judged when races are evenly run and, for that reason, the score of 2.1 by Maltese Cross, although a soft ground time, was brought about by an overly-strong gallop for the first seven furlongs of that 12-furlong contest and it is not a good guide to the prevailing conditions.

Race 1: Air Force One 4.8

Race 2: Haffner 4.5

Race 3: Maltese Cross 2.1

Race 4: Item 5.0

Race 5: Small Fry 3.4

Race 6: Missyechance 6.5

Race 7: Henley On Thames 4.7

(Meeting Average 4.4)

If you focus on trying to beat one horse, it can be the case that the fundamentals of trying to win yourself are lost in a sea of tactical nuance and I suspect if Ballydoyle could have another crack at the Juddmonte International, they would be delighted and would be keen to let Constitution River use his speed at the end of the race rather than at the beginning.

The two feature races on the first day produced similar data, because they were what I would describe as ‘upside down races’ with fierce early fractions causing slow finishes and, as such, stamina rather than speed was at a premium.

Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1)

FIRSTLY, we must deal with the tactics that occurred in this race. Ombudsman endured a torrid trip, courtesy of being man marked by Action, which ensured he was pinned to the inside and persistently in traffic.

This, allied to a very strong gallop set by Hawk Mountain, ensured that Ombudsman’s customary turn of foot was blunted in what was an attritional contest.

Under such a scenario, the door should have been open for Constitution River to take advantage, but the problem was he raced too close to the strong early gallop and was keen, which served to sap some of the energy needed for a strong finishing effort.

The final time of 2m 8.44s was (+0.66s vs Par) garnering a Race IQ Time Index of 5.0.

This is a good time given the pace scenario that prevailed. Hawk Mountain took the field through the first five furlongs in faster than par sectionals and, thereafter, there was no time for a breather, with Constitution River quickening to the front three furlongs out.

Slow finish

Under these circumstances, it is no surprise that none of the runners could even run a par sectional through the last half mile. This relatively-slow finish meant that Item recorded a Finishing Speed Percentage (FSP) of 101.40% with the Par for a race of this standard over this trip being 104.78%.

This highlights just how strong a test of stamina this race was and it suited Item, who has potential to be even better when he tackles 12 furlongs.

Item’s final furlong of 12.78s is slower than Par, but he was still the only horse in the race to break 13.00s, hitting the line harder than his rivals but far from charging over it.

For context, Constitution River, who attended the very strong early pace, completed that final furlong in a very slow 13.58s. Evidence that this was caused by his early exertions lie in the fact that he broke smartly being the second-fastest horse in the race to reach 20mph (2.49s) and then he grabbed the bridle and raced with zest, hitting his highest speed of the race in the first furlong (37.98mph).

Slow finish

By contrast, Item saved his top speed for the seventh furlong, where he also clocked 37.98mph. No clearer evidence is required to highlight that energy distribution, whether it be in human or equine athletics, is crucial.

As a two-year-old at the Curragh last August, Constitution River displayed abundant speed, running a penultimate furlong in a rapid 10.81s to win the Futurity from the useful Geryon.

This season, he has found himself in attritional races where the emphasis has been on stamina, his potential for better remains intact if ridden to utilise the speed he has already shown, but has too infrequently been asked to utilise.

Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2)

MALTESE Cross produced a slow winning time of 2m 32.04s, which is (+3.45s) slower than Par producing a Time Index of 2.1.

This final time was produced in a race that was run in similar fashion to the Juddmonte International.

The fast early fractions led to a slow and tired finish, with all the runners completing the final four furlongs in slower than par numbers.

Maltese Cross produced an FSP of 100.14%, with the Par number for a race of this class at York being 105.46%. This severe test of stamina was created by all the runners bar Maltese Cross running their fastest furlong through the second furlong and it is surely significant that Maltese Cross saved his biggest effort for the 10th furlong, where his split of 12.04s was still slower than Par but faster than all his rivals.

No fluke

Further evidence of the importance of energy distribution. There was no fluke in his success, despite the run of the race, as evidenced by the fact that he was the fastest horse through each of the final three furlongs, seeing the trip out better than his rivals and proving to be very tough.

He has improved all season and, despite being beaten by Christmas Day in the Derby, may have improved past that horse now.

Just as Constitution River sat close to furious fractions set by his pacemaker Hawk Mountain, Christmas Day attended overly-strong fractions set by his pacemaker Antigua and, even though he is a strong stayer, when the fractions are even if you use all your energy in the first half of a marathon, you are going to struggle to finish. He averaged more than 13.00s for each of the final three furlongs to record a pedestrian FSP of 98.33%.

It would be fair to say that none of the runners were able to show their best in a race where it was simply a case of who was in front when the music stopped.

We will see a much better version of the first three when they get to race off even fractions and all are legitimate contenders for the St Leger, although the William Haggas team may well be eyeing up a tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October with Maltese Cross.