THERE was no shortage of classy action at Goodwood outside the Sussex Stakes, not least with Battaash winning his fourth consecutive Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes on Friday, smashing his own track record in the process.

Track records reflect on conditions as well as on the abilities of the participants, and Glass Slippers and Ornate in second and third beat the previous best also on ground which had dried out a lot from the good to soft of the opening day (action from which which was dealt with in this column last week).

Nonetheless, Battaash’s 55.62s was a fast time even within that context, worth a 127 rating with no sectional upgrade as Jim Crowley on board judged the splits perfectly.

Glass Slippers, receiving 8lb, is credited with 107 compared to last year’s Abbaye win of 120, while Ornate somehow managed to run to 109 having been beaten off handicap marks in the 90s on his three most recent runs.

These conditions suit Battaash, who might be even better at four furlongs if races at that distance existed, as does York’s pancake-flat five furlongs on which he took down Dayjur’s long-standing course record last August. Firm going there in a couple of weeks could see his own 55.90secs in danger.

Fancy Blue struck another blow for Donnacha O’Brien by winning her second Group 1 in a row, the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Thursday, by a neck from the Jessica Harrington-trained One Voice.

Truth be told, this was not the strongest race of its type and Fancy Blue improved only a little on the form of her Prix de Diane win in posting a 112 figure off near-perfect sectionals.

One Voice is on the same mark after a small upgrade for coming from a bit further back. Even with a sex allowance, more is likely to be needed against the best males.

First time

Mogul (112) returned to the winner’s enclosure for the first time since last September in the Gordon Stakes on the same day, though it was a hard-fought success from former handicappers Highland Chief (110) and Subjectivist (109), with the Derby runner-up Khalifa Sat only fifth of six.

It is difficult to believe that either English King or Al Aasy ran right up to form, the latter possibly ill at ease on the ground. This was, at least, quite a well-run race, with little in the way of sectional upgrades as a result.

The “good thing” One Master duly obliged in the Group 3 Oak Tree Stakes on Friday at Goodwood, but by only a short-head after encountering trouble, running to 109 after sectionals have been factored in but worth keeping on 113 overall. This was another personal best from the runner-up Valeria Messalina, who goes up to 105.

It is probably best to treat the form of the Group 3 Thoroughbred Stakes on the same day with a degree of caution given that it was slowly run, that the winner, Tilsit, hampered runner-up My Oberon after going past, and that the other three seemed not to run their best (possibly due to the quickening ground in odds-on Khaloosy’s case).

Tilsit gets a 110 figure once sectionals have been allowed for, but his overall time was fully 3.55s slower than achieved by 95-rated Prompting in landing the Golden Mile Handicap just half an hour later.

The Group 3 Glorious Stakes later on the Friday card was another messy affair, in which Pablo Escobarr had only to run up to his previous rating of 107 in beating Desert Encounter (105 here, 111 previously) and the handicapper Le Don de Vie (106 here, 100 previously).

There was a most disappointing turnout at Goodwood on Saturday for the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes, with Enbihaar (103, compared to 110 when winning the same race 12 months ago) accounting for just two rivals. Runner-up Cabaletta remains on 99, but could be upped in the light of subsequent events.

The consistent Summerghand finally won the big handicap he deserved, the Stewards’ Cup by a head from Kimifive, a 113-rated performance under top-weight which suggests he deserves an extended run in Group races now.

Other notable winners at Goodwood during the week included the handicappers Chamade (100), Toro Strike (103) and Society Lion (91).

Over at Newmarket on Saturday, it is worth noting the listed wins of Katara (105) and Withhold (103), the former not having a lot to beat but again shaping like a filly who can go a fair way at this game.