Space Blues stands out on the clock

WITHOUT doubt, the standout performance of the day on the clock was recorded by Space Blues (128) who, despite enduring the worst of the track conditions, posted the fastest furlong-by-furlong time and sectionals of all the Group 1 races.

Charlie Appleby has attempted to win the Prix de la Foret for the last two years only for a setback in the build up to the race preventing the son of Dubawi taking his chance.

The five-year-old stamped his class on Sunday’s event in no uncertain terms covering the concluding 1,000m 1.6 seconds faster than Angel Bleu who landed the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere over the same course and distance.

The majority of the difference in time was achieved courtesy of a burst of speed that propelled him to a closing 400m sectional of 23.37 seconds, which was at least 1.11 seconds faster than any other Group 1 winner away from the sprint track.

As if the data is not impressive enough, victory was achieved with ease from a difficult wide draw with William Buick toying with his rivals until the final 100 yards before surging clear.

Kinross (115) may have only finished fourth, but Ralph Beckett’s gelding finished closest to the winner in terms of closing sectionals having been positioned behind him in the formative stages of the race.

In covering the final 1,000m in 59.28 seconds, the son of Kingman still looked to have plenty to give in the final stages as a 23.76 second split completed his finishing effort.

Pearls Galore (124) (60.05 & 24.37 seconds) was ridden forward and along with 100/1 outsider Entscheiden (122) (60.19 & 24.50 seconds) emerge from the race with credit given the finishing speed of the winner.

The run of Speak Of The Devil (113), who finished sixth, is worth a second glance as the four-year-old filly stopped the clock at 59.91 seconds for the final 1,000m despite not gaining the clearest passage.