THIS is the time of year when the focus falls increasingly on the two-year-olds and, with the remainder of the season as well as next year in mind, there were several from the age group last week whose timefigures, while not especially impressive by themselves, take on a more persuasive significance when their sectional upgrades are applied.

Chief amongst them are Stormy Antarctic, who won the traditionally informative Haynes, Hanson Clark Stakes at Newbury readily in a timefigure of 98 but can be upgraded to 108; Haggle, whose Newmarket maiden win, characterised by a sparkling turn of foot in a timefigure of 76, can be elevated to 97 (a figure that might still underestimate her on her debut form behind Ballydoyle); and Cosmeapolitan (who was fourth coincidentally behind Stormy Antarctic on his penultimate start in a maiden that is working out very well) whose Chepstow win was worth only 77 on the clock but can be advanced to 96.

EXPENSIVE

Expensive breeze-up purchase Stormy Antarctic shouldn’t be underestimated if he goes for the Royal Lodge and given a step up to a mile promises further improvement, while Haggle has already been earmarked for the Listed Montrose Stakes also at Newmarket at the end of October.

Cosmeapolitan has no lofty targets as yet, but already he has good claims to be the best progeny sired so far by Cumberland Lodge winner Mawatheeq and given that his dam won over a mile and a half as well as over hurdles he looks one to note for an end-of-season nursery when stepped up to a mile or more.