VIS Total Performance Data figures on Attheraces.com, it is known that runner-up Roaring Lion reached a higher speed in the closing stages, running the penultimate furlong in 12.0sec dead to hit the front, before tiring through a 13.1sec final furlong and being nailed by the smoother energy distribution of the winner Saxon Warrior, the Deep Impact colt trained by Aidan O’Brien.

On the day, Roaring Lion could have won had his effort been saved for slightly later, but we must be careful not to get bogged down in comparing apples with oranges.

Saxon Warrior, like his paternal half-sister September, is a stayer and a great prospect for mile and a half races. Roaring Lion is faster, despite being by Kitten’s Joy, hailing from the family of smart sprinter California Flag on his dam’s side.

In a race run into a headwind on easy ground, Timeform gave the winner a Timefigure of 114. These two colts are extremely good prospects.