THERE are still a few cards to be played in the 2017 flat season, both in Europe and further afield, but now seems like a good opportunity to take stock of what has passed (not least because I am shortly to be Melbourne bound myself).

Shown left are the top-10 Timeform timefigures in Ireland and Britain for the season so far, divided into two-year-olds, three-year-olds and older horses. It has been an especially good year for three-year-olds, with three of them now exceeding the 126.8 five-year average for generational leaders on timefigures.

Battaash was the first 130-plus-rated horse of any age since Farhh ran a 131 in the 2013 Lockinge Stakes and the first three-year-old to manage that since Frankel ran 136 in the 2000 Guineas in 2011. His is also the fastest timefigure by a sprinter since Oasis Dream ran 133 in the 2003 Nunthorpe.

Those timefigures do not include racing in France – where Battaash streaked clear in the Abbaye – or further afield.

Indeed, it has been a vintage year for three-year-old sprinters more specifically, with the first five places filled by horses in that category.

Enable was a fast winner of the Oaks at Epsom (121 timefigure) but advanced her figure only slightly at Ascot (and probably at Chantilly). A more detailed sectional breakdown of her times revealed just how much tactical speed she possesses as well as stamina.

Ulysses is a slightly below-standard leader among the older horses (130.4 is the benchmark, inflated by Frankel), but he won and was second in the only two races which appear three times on the lists, the International Stakes at York and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

It is possible that Order Of St George has been sold a bit short on 123 for his Irish St Leger win on a day when he was far and away quickest of the three winners at longer distances.

U S Navy Flag is also slightly below the standard (123.2) for a leading two-year-old at this stage.

Six of the top-10 time performances of that age are fillies. Clemmie is about on standard for a top two-year-old filly on time.

Many of the best two-year-old prospects will not have shown their hand fully. It is worth remembering that the fastest time in a two-year-old maiden came from The Pentagon (109, at the Curragh) and that Ascot maiden winner Herculean (95) did some smart sectionals.