THE highlight of the last weekend, was no doubt the titan cross-generational clash between Delacroix and Ombudsman in the Eclipse Stakes on Saturday, but it was a performance over the same course and distance just 24 hours earlier that threw up quite a noteworthy performance, writes Page Fuller.

The Listed Gala Stakes on Friday was run over the same mile and a quarter trip as the Eclipse, but the win time of 2m 4.76 seconds was an impressive 1.16 seconds quicker than the weekend’s feature contest. For this reason, I believe the runner-up Caviar Heights is definitely the one to take note of following his brave performance in second.

Granted, the Eclipse had steady early fractions contributing to the slightly slower win time, but the Time Index suggests the time recorded in the Gala Stakes was very impressive. It was 2.73 seconds quicker than our par time, which our Time Index model rated as a 9.4 out of 10.

What was particularly impressive from Caviar Heights was his resoluteness in defeat after a massive 286-day break, on his first run for William Haggas.

He helped set very strong fractions for the early part of the race, registering ‘fast’ sectionals compared to par through furlongs four and five, and a ‘very fast’ furlong compared to par in furlong six. It is therefore no surprise he got slightly tired in his run to the line on this seasonal debut, and to only go down a nose in defeat to Windlord is very solid form.

His race fitness should take a step forward the next time we see him, but the Time Index suggests he wouldn’t need to improve at all to land himself a similar contest at this level.