Sectional Debrief: Post-Goodwood round-up

This series of Sectional Debriefs is nearly four months in existence, and now seems a good time to take stock of events, especially with Glorious Goodwood providing a number of eye-catching sectional performances not covered in the daily articles that can be found elsewhere on this site.
 
July was a poor one for results in the main, but Toronado and Valonia went a long way to rescuing the situation on the final day with victories at Betfair SPs of 3.9 and 4.8. The figures at close of play on August 3 stood at: 24 successful bets from 58 runners, +10.78 at BSP (pre commission) to a one-point level stake, for a Return On Investment of +18.6%.

Sectional analysis was not easy at Goodwood, but the week served as a reminder that if punters want accurate and timely sectionals there is nothing to stop them taking them themselves when television pictures allow. A surprisingly large number of races seemed to be run at an overly-strong pace, especially on the straight course, and three of the additions to the sectional lists reflect that.

Sleeper King finished only fourth in the Molecomb Stakes on Tuesday but seemed to pay for going too fast, in the lead at the two-furlong pole and passed by horses that came from sixth, eighth-of-eight and fourth at that stage. He has caught the eye with his early pace before and probably just needs to have his energy rationed a bit more efficiently to win a useful contest. 

Six Wives kept on remarkably well to finish second in the five-furlong handicap on the same day given that she set very fast fractions and the winner, Tidal's Baby, came from last-of-20 at one stage. The Scott Dixon-trained mare has not won in a year, despite many attempts, but she has defied a mark higher than this 71 on four occasions in her career, and the evidence from this effort is that she is in rude health. What's more, she seems to act on any turf/all-weather with the possible exception of firm ground. 

The sectionals point to the nursery won by Flying Bear on the Friday having been run at an overly-strong pace, with most of the principals coming from a few lengths back. The main exception - and a notable one at that - was fifth-placed Ifwecan, who saw off the likes of Grecian and Primitorio (both ran about 10 lb below their best as a result) before collared late on and beaten less than a length. He can win a similar race at five furlongs or an easy six furlongs. 

A different sort altogether is the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Golden Town, who made a most eye-catching debut behind Snow Trouble on Saturday. Sectionals point to the always-prominent winner running close to par, so it must have been quite an effort for Golden Town - by Invincible Spirit and from the family of Derby winner Authorized - to make up several lengths in the closing stages to finish fourth.

The fact that Toronado is a top-class performer will no longer escape the attention of those who chose to ignore the evidence of the sectionals previously, so he drops off the list, as do the other horses to run recently, whether successful or not. In addition, Singersongwriter and Demonic are removed, having neither been seen nor entered in nearly three months. The full lists are as follows: 

"To follow": Astonishing, Big Break, Crown Pleasure, Fiducia, Glorious Protector, Golden Town, Ifwecan, Lucky Kristale, Respect Me, Shwaiman, Six Wives, Sleeper King, Sole Power   

"To oppose": Mubtadi, Shamdarley, Surge Ahead