THE track record which did fall at Sandown last Saturday was that over five furlongs, with Battaash lowering the previous best by fully 0.25s. Timefigures can be speculative when, as in this instance, the race in question is the only one on the straight course on the day. But sectionals mean we can confirm that the race was well-run and that the time was not simply down to firmer ground.

Indeed, Battaash did not hold back one bit, blazing through furlongs two and three in just 20.75s before slowing with a 12.2s for the final furlong, by which stage he already had the race well and truly won. He reached the line three and a quarter lengths ahead of Mirza with a further three lengths back to the Temple Stakes runner-up Goldream.