THERE was no disgrace in Hit The Bid’s being eclipsed at level weights by Ertijaal and Blue Point – both top-notch sprinters – in the Meydan Sprint last Thursday week, though he was beaten further than might have been hoped for. I have the first two running 124 timefigures, fully 8lb below his lifetime best in Ertijaal’s case.

Those were still comfortably the best timefigures on what was another high-quality Meydan card.

The reason why Folkswood (third to Winx in the Cox Plate since last seen in Europe) ran a timefigure of just 98 in beating Leshlaa by a short-head in the Dubai Millennium Stakes becomes clear when looking at the Trakus sectionals, for the race finishing speed was 109.4%, indicative of a sprint finish.

DISAPPOINTMENT

Closer to home, Clear Skies was a disappointment when sent to Lingfield for the Winter Derby, already held when hampered and eased. Lingfield is far more speed-favouring than Dundalk, especially when the latter is riding quite slow (as was the case when Clear Skies won there in January), and sectionals confirm this ended up as something of a sprint.

First past the post Mr Owen and the horse who replaced him in the winner’s enclosure, Master The World, get 104 timefigures.

Better winning times were recorded during the week by Just That Lord (105 at Wolverhampton), Goring (110 at Lingfield) and Straight Right (114 at Newcastle).

The last-named may slip under the radar, coming, as it did, in a handicap, with Straight Right carrying top weight in a field of 14. The Andrew Balding-trained colt was helped in coming from last to first at this extended seven-furlong trip by a solid early pace, the uphill finish and a fairly testing surface. But he looks at least listed class on this.

Corinthia Knight provided another feather in the cap of the excellent young British trainer Archie Watson when winning a Fast-Track Qualifier earlier on that Newcastle card, though the colt had the run of things up front (timefigure of just 90) and runner-up Stone Of Destiny looks every bit as good a prospect longer term.