MY self-imposed exile to Australia also meant that I missed the end of the turf flat season in these parts. In particular, the win of Saxon Warrior in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster at the end of October is worth a retrospective comment.

On good to soft going, Saxon Warrior’s time of 1m 40.12s was smart but not spectacular, and worth a 114 timefigure on the Timeform scale. That has him on joint-third among juveniles in Ireland and Britain in what has been a somewhat underwhelming season for that age group, behind his stable-companions U S Navy Flag (121) and Clemmie (118).

If time experts are only partly convinced by Saxon Warrior so far, there should be no doubting the colt’s attitude given the way he battled in this nor the likelihood that he will stay beyond this mile despite the speed on his dam’s side.

There was also much to like about the runner-up, Roaring Lion, especially the way he quickened to the front with a 12.0s sectional according to Total Performance Data figures, though he then hung left having gone as short as 1/9 in running.