THE group races which did take place in Ireland and Britain in the period under review went the way of Realtra (Coolmore Stud Fairy Bridge Stakes), Masar (Solario Stakes) and Aljazzi (Atalanta Stakes) with the first-named at Tipperary with a 95 timefigure, the last-two-named both at Sandown with 103 timefigures.

Masar already had one of the top juvenile timefigures of the season (111) to his name courtesy of his third in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot. Sectionals show that the pace in the Solario was not all that strong early and peaked at 12.0s per furlong between the beginning of the straight and the one-furlong pole, which helps to explain that shortfall.

The best timefigure in Ireland and Britain in the period under review came a few days earlier, at Epsom, where one-time leading Derby fancy Midterm ran a 110 figure in beating Mount Logan by two and a half lengths in a minor event.

Midterm got rather over-rated earlier in his career (including by me for a while!) though sectionals had suggested he was flattered when second in the Prix Niel at Chantilly this time last year. He has the ability to win at listed and maybe even ordinary Group 3 level, however.

SOUTHWELL star?

Timefigures for the straight five furlongs at Southwell can be a tricky matter, even now that British racing’s remeasurement project has confirmed what most time analysts long suspected: that the distance is short of the minimum.

Races at the trip take place in a separate chute and times do not always marry with those on the round course, possibly due to different track maintenance.

However, there were three races there at four furlongs and 214 yards last Bank Holiday Monday, and comfortably fastest of them was the only one for two-year-olds, which went to Royal Diplomat by six lengths.

The Richard Fahey-trained colt has been in and out to date, but his new BHA mark of 76 looks to underestimate him, for this effort is that of a 90-rated performer on time.

GOLDRUSH DEBUT WIN

The debut win at Navan on Saturday of the beautifully-bred Goldrush (Frankel, ex Alexander Goldrun) caused quite a stir and was visually impressive.

But the clock suggests some caution is advisable, with the filly running an overall time of more than 13.0s per furlong and posting a timefigure of just 60.

Timeform has been producing timefigures in Ireland for only a few years but no two-year-old in that time has run a bigger figure at Roscommon than did Sirjack Thomas (90) at the end of August, and the Madeleine Tylicki-trained colt should hold his own at a slightly higher level.