THERE were some data-rich performances on trials day at Leopardstown last Sunday. Dermot Weld secured a double with two useful three-year-old fillies, and it was business as usual for Ryan Moore with a treble which included a win in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes for Aidan O’Brien.

If the day produced a classic winner, it may well be Tarima who impressed against a positional disadvantage on her debut in the opener.

The ground was officially described as being good to soft at Leopardstown on Sunday, but the final times when compared to the RaceIQ standards suggested it was good at worst.

Every single winner posted a time that was faster than par when compared to historical data. RaceIQ allots a time index score between 0-10 for all races and the scores achieved at Leopardstown were high with the average being 8 out of 10.

This was a function of there being some good winners on the card on ground that was faster than suggested.

Tarima: 7.8

Henri Matisse: 8.6

Swelter: 9.8

Delacroix: 8.5

Serious Contender 7.7

Dark Viper: 7.3

Brains 6.5

As ever, final times are a good starting point for analysis, but it is how those times were achieved that matters. The best time performance on the card was from Swelter in the Group 3 Ballylinch Stud ‘Priory Belle’ Stakes, who may slip under the radar given the other high-profile winners that there were on the card.

The inference when a good final time is achieved must be that the race was run evenly and that is exactly what happened here.

Swelter achieved a Finishing Speed Percentage of 101.26% which was only marginally slower than par (101.55%). This finishing effort suggests that she was rated evenly in a race run at a good gallop.

The early pace was rated as being fast as against the Race IQ par sectionals and off this gallop, Swelter was the only horse in the race to be able to record par sectionals through the final three furlongs (F5: 11.86s) (F6: 11.66s) (F7: 12.55s).

In essence, she saw the trip out very strongly having had enough speed to cope with the early pace.

Plenty of pace

She showed on her debut last season at Leopardstown that she stays a mile well and has plenty of pace. She finished that maiden off strongly going from last to first with a final furlong of 12.18s rated as very fast as against par which contributed to a quick final two furlongs that gave her an FSP of 104.93%.

She is already very useful and it’s not surprising that Dermot Weld is thinking about the Irish 1000 Guineas for which she is a strong 5/1 shot with most firms.

She would be more than competitive in the English version if connections wanted to switch her to Newmarket.

DERMOT Weld not only has a Guineas filly on his hands with Sweltering, but he also has a potential Oaks candidate in the shape of the well-bred filly Lope De Vega filly Tarima, who is from the family of Grade 1 winners Tarnawa and Tahiyra.

The Ballylinch Stud Fillies Maiden was one of the more steadily run races on the card with Tarima finishing fast to record an FSP of 109.60%.

Given that all of the seven runners finished strongly recording FSP’s above 100%, Tarima did well to run them all down having raced in last place for the first five furlongs. Her ability to quicken past horses who were also quickening in front of her labels her out as being very smart and a good deal better than the bare result.

She was fastest through each of the final three furlongs, a surge that took her to the front from seventh place.

The second and third placed horses had the run of the race in front yet couldn’t match Tarima’s finishing kick.

1st Tarima: 23.37s

2nd Noli Timere: 23.98s

3rd Made U Blush: 24.15s

This was the fastest two furlongs recorded by any horse on the card and it is important to note that she achieved this on the first start of her career.

Such speed will be a huge asset when she steps up in trip which in accordance with her pedigree should bring about plenty of improvement.

She holds an entry in the Irish Oaks, but the English version is surely under consideration for which she is a generous looking 16/1 with most firms.

IT was not a case of complete Dermot Weld domination at Leopardstown on Sunday with Aidan O’Brien also securing a double courtesy of Henri Matisse and Delacroix, the latter producing the most interesting data.

Delacroix secured a length and a quarter success under a masterful front-running ride from Ryan Moore in what was an ordinary renewal of the Group 3 P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes.

Steadied the pacel

He established the lead on the rail with a second furlong of 11.71s and then steadied the pace through the next five furlongs saving energy for a strong finish.

His sectionals are set out here with an indication of how each furlong compares to par and the highlight just how much Ryan Moore dominated this contest.

F1: 15.22s (Par)

F2: 11.71s (Fast)

F3: 12.58s (Slow)

F4: 12.83s (Slow)

F5: 12.80s (Par)

F6: 12.80s (Slow)

F7: 12.25s (Par)

F8: 11.82s (Fast)

F9: 11.60s (Fast)

F10: 12.53s (Fast)

It is clear from these RaceIQ sectionals that Ryan kept his powder dry for the first six furlongs before quickening smartly through furlongs seven and eight and nine to give him an FSP of 105.28%. He won for just a hands and heels ride and probably had more to give. He looked to be a strong stayer at a mile in the Futurity last season and is clearly effective at this 10-furlong trip.

His pedigree is not stamina-laden, and 12 furlongs may stretch him.

A Derby trial may be on the agenda with Chester seeming a likely target, although there are undoubtedly stronger Derby candidates among the Ballydoyle battalions. Delacroix is generally available at 16/1 for the race.

Shaped well

Lambourn shaped well in second place. Having been a little outpaced through the first six furlongs he finished strongly and was only 0.08s slower than Delacroix through the final three furlongs.

He hit the line well with a strong final furlong of 12.39s as compared to the winner who recorded 12.53s. Lambourn looks like a strong stayer in the making and distances of more than 12 furlongs may bring out the best in him.

The level of his previous form casts doubts on the value of this race as a classic form guide, but at least Delacroix won with authority.