CONTRARY to some impressions, it is possible to be a numbers geek and to appreciate the history and spectacle of the sport. The two are even complementary when numbers underline just how good a visually impressive performance really was.

The summer of 2019 is proving to be the summer of Frankie Dettori, who has captured Group 1 after Group 1 at the kind of age when many jockeys have long since taken up a cushy role in the media.

Time and again, the numbers have backed up the visuals: fine performances from the horses and superb judgement from Dettori himself.

Subjectively, I would say he is one of the best three flat jockeys I have seen, along with Cauthen and Piggott.

We saw the very best of him last week at Goodwood, but we also saw the not-quite-so-good. The former was embodied in his immaculate handling of Too Darn Hot in the Qatar Sussex Stakes on the Wednesday; the latter in defeat on Mehdaayih in the Qatar Nassau Stakes.

Too Darn Hot was avenging defeat by Circus Maximus from Royal Ascot, and the crucial difference was that this race was well-run whereas that one was not. Dettori tracked and pounced, and left nothing to chance this time, with Too Darn Hot running a 121 timefigure which gets upgraded only fractionally to 122 on sectionals.

There may well have been a bit more in the locker from a colt who had run a 125 sectional rating when winning the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville the time before, but, sadly, we will not be finding out as it was later announced that Too Darn Hot sustained an injury in the process and has been retired.

Circus Maximus arguably enhanced his standing in defeat. His St James’s Palace Stakes win was questionable in sectional terms, but there was nothing wrong with this.

He raced close up before leading briefly, and kept battling after Too Darn Hot went past. I make this his best effort on 120, though with no upgrade, as he raced efficiently according to the splits.

Those behind who were held up ended up not ideally positioned, but none of them made sufficient headway to feel they were unlucky. Phoenix Of Spain, who had beaten Too Darn Hot in the Irish 2000 of course, was only sixth after making the running and is becoming something of an enigma.

Too fast

To be fair to Dettori on Mehdaayih in the Nassau, sectionals suggest he went only a bit too fast, and he ended up being run down by a mare, in the Japanese-trained Deirdre, who returned to her classy best under an inspired Oisin Murphy and ran a 118 timefigure in the process.

Mehdaayih was running on empty in the final furlong, which she completed in around 13.0s when the previous two furlongs had been in under 12.0s.

I have her on a basic 114 timefigure but equal to the winner on 118 on sectionals.

The Nassau has a solid look otherwise, with Rawdaa (113), Sun Maiden (109) and Just Wonderful (105) running to, or close to, their previous bests.