THE fastest timefigure of the week involves a bit of guesswork, as well. Brando’s win in the Group 3 Coral Charge came in the only straight-course race at Sandown on the Saturday, though the previous day’s action had shown that conditions there were slower still than on the round course.

Sectionals show that Brando went fast in dispute of the lead, and that Monsieur Joe, who all but ran him down late on having raced further back and expended his energy more efficiently. All told, it was quite an effort from the winner to put up a 112 timefigure and to see off the rest of his rivals by wide margins.