My time rating for Camelot is very slow too but I just don't buy the sectionals' conclusion. There must be a fatal flaw in the calculation. Of the seven races run on the day and taking the first as the marker for the going, not one of the other races produced a time rating in advance of the form rating and Camelot's time rating was only 18lbs faster than that of Red Quartet, winner of the 3yo 6f handicap off 81 and 19lbs faster than Rewarded who won the 3yo handicap over course and distance off 83. Lindop, anyone?
The overall time for the Guineas was therefore slow and the race was won by a potential stayer. My pre-race hope that there wasn't any pace and that the race would fall into the hands of a true miler proved unfounded because Trumper Major has taken them along at too fast a pace. Camelot and French Fifteen came from almost last at halfway to go clear, usually a clear sign that the front runners are weakening. There can be no guarantee that they'd have got to the front off a less generous pace.
Looking at the three groups, on the near side TM has made the running and actually burned off everything that chased him. On the far side Abtaal made all and weakened significantly, probably having gone too fast in order to keep up with the near side. Caspar Netscher back in ninth led home the trio who raced up the middle but his stamina was in doubt beforehand and the other two were big outsiders. Forget them. I'm not sure what to make of the far side group given that Coupe De Ville was only beaten just over a length by Hermival.
I think time will prove Trumpet Major is far better than this bare form and possibly a better miler than French Fifteen. He'll probably improve as the season progresses and I'd defintiely fancy him to beat Camelot on the outside chance they dropped the winner back to a mile at some point.
