IN a normal week, the win of Laurens in a Group 1 – her fourth of the season and fifth in all – might well command headline billing, but this was no normal week.

That success came at Newmarket in the Sun Chariot Stakes, and it showcased many of the filly’s trademark qualities, not least her ability to deliver when others do not for various reasons.

A defeat of Happily by a head, with two and a quarter lengths back to Altyn Orda, does not read especially well as these things go, and the time was okay rather than better (0.45s quicker than an 88-rated handicapper later on the card, resulting in a 113 timefigure for Laurens), with Wind Chimes one of several underperforming behind her. But Laurens can only beat what turns up, and she has done that with regularity.

SIGNIFICANT

Less prestigious, but nonetheless significant, wins were achieved at Ascot by Laraaib in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes (111 timefigure assumes the round course was much softer than the straight one), by Projection in a much depleted Bengough Stakes (110) and in listed races by Ghostwatch (110), Intense Romance (110) and Di Fede (109).

The last-named was 0.34s faster than the win of a rejuvenated Raising Sand in the valuable handicap 35 minutes earlier, with that runner thereby returning a 99 timefigure.

TIPPERARY

It is difficult to put a precise figure on the victory of Yulong Gold Fairy in the Coolmore Stud Home of Champions Concorde Stakes at Tipperary on Sunday, as it was one of only three flat races on the card and the only one at the extended seven-furlong distance. In the end, I opted for 106, which makes runner-up Smash Williams (conceding 2lb more than weight-for-age) 108.

AMERICAN RACES

There were 10 Grade 1s Stateside from last Friday week through to Sunday, but I am prepared to bet that few of them will have much of a bearing on events at the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs next month.

The two likeliest exceptions are the Champagne Stakes for two-year-olds at Belmont Park, where the Chad Brown-trained colt Complexity ran a 119 figure which is better than anything seen in the division outside the sidelined Instagrand, and the Santa Anita Sprint Championship.

The latter went to Roy H with a 122 performance that suggests he is every bit as good as when winning the Breeders’ Cup Sprint held at Del Mar last year.

That said, the horse Roy H beat that day, Imperial Hint, has gone on a roll since and can boast a 126 effort when winning at Saratoga in July. Perhaps it is no bad thing that the Europeans seldom tackle the race!