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Data Detective: a Goodwood favourite ranked one in 997
By Andy Stephens
Last Updated: Tue 28 Jul 2026
Who do you reckon has clocked the fastest final two furlongs in races over 6f at Ascot since RaceiQ began recording data in March 2023?
In addition to the best part of 1000 horses trained in Britain and Ireland to consider, you’ve got top sprinters from Japan, Australia and France to throw into the mix.
There have been a series of Group One winners and a stack of Royal Ascot victors during this period, but the leader of the pack is instead a two-year-old who made his debut only last month and will line up in the Markel Richmond Stakes at Goodwood on Thursday.
It was 19 days ago that Flann Sunna flew through the final two furlongs of the Knight Frank Conditions Stakes at the Berkshire course in 22.34 seconds.
The Blue Point colt looked a chip off the old block as he swept him almost five lengths clear of Godolphin’s promising Mysterious Times.
And it could have been quicker, too, as jockey Jack Mitchell rode him hands and heels and eased down near the finish after briefly getting in a tangle with his reins as his mount edged a little left.
RaceiQ has 996 other horses in its database to have run over 6f at Ascot and none have been that quick over the final quarter of a mile.
How Flann Sunna zoomd home at Ascot
They include Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winners Khaadem, Lazzat and Almeraq, plus Commonwealth Cup victors Shaquille, Inisherin, Time For Sandals and Venetian Sun. There have been Wokingham winners and Champions Day heroes in there as well.
It’s not that straightforward, of course, and it would be premature to suggest Simon and Ed Crisford have a sprinting giant among their ranks. However, the dream is alive.
Flann Sunna produced his dazzling finale after he and the other six runners in the race had gone very steady until past halfway.
The sectionals are a sea of light blue (slow) and dark blue (very slow) up to the midway point. And even in the fourth furlong nothing in the field managed anything quicker than “Par”.
But then came Flann Sunna’s explosion of pace in which he hit 41.47 mph.
He flew through the fifth furlong in a rapid 10.88sec (best of the 997) and polished off the uphill sixth in 11.46sec (third fastest of the 997). His opponents also quickened up, but nothing like that.
Flann Sun’s Finishing Speed Percentage was 109.12%, indicative of the slow gallop, but still most noteworthy. The runner-up, an unlucky loser on his previous start at Newmarket, could only manage a response of 107.23%.
And this was not a flash in the pan.
Flann Sunna had made his debut at Windsor on June 22 and produced something similar in another contest run at slow fractions.
The RaceiQ database has 1888 horses to have run over 6f at Windsor and Flann Sunna’s final two furlongs of 22.49sec ranks as the 20th quickest.
Blue Point dazzled as a sprinter, including winning twice in a week at Royal Ascot
He clocked 10.95sec in the penultimate furlong and finished off in 11.54sec. As at Ascot, there looked plenty left in his tank after he had hit 41.54mph.
The Richmond Stakes, for which he is quoted at about 2-1, will ask new questions of him. There will be no hanging around this time, especially with Jaan Ki Tukri among his nine rivals.
This Clive Cox-trained colt leaves the stalls as if his tail is on fire and romped home at Ffos Las last time in first-time cheekpieces, having previously blazed a trail in the Coventry at Royal Ascot before fading.
He negotiated the first furlong in a "fast" 14.26sec that day, with only two horses (Regional and Overpass) going quicker than that in the opening stages of the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes a few days later.
Will he and the others take Flann Sunna out of his comfort zone or stretch his stamina?
All we know is that he is quick. Very quick. And if he can replicate what he did at Ascot in a true-run race, then the sprinting division might just have a new star on its hands.
Two more tips for Thursday
3.00 GOODWOOD: ENCELADUS
Enceladus has a bit to find on official ratings in the Gordon Stakes, but the Joseph O’Brien-trained colt can prove equal to the task.
The long striding son of Sea The Stars shed his maiden tag at Cork in April when signing off with two fast furlongs and recorded a time 1.78 seconds quicker than the RaceiQ Par when a tenacious winner of the King George V Stakes at Royal Ascot last time.
He began with four “fast” furlongs that day and his next pair were Par.
In theory, that should have left him vulnerable (the next five home managed only five “fast” sectionals and recorded eight “slow” furlongs between them during this part of the race) but he kept on rolling with his final furlong of 12.08sec being fastest of the whole field.
He was one the longest striders of the whole week – his peak here was 8.48 metres – and there could be a lot more to come.
3.35 GOODWOOD: FRIENDLY SOUL
Friendly Soul beat Kalpana early in her career but she’s since had her share of misfortune, including when third to Blue Bolt over a mile at Royal Ascot last time out.
The John and Thady Gosden-trained mare was shuffled back to last of the 15 runners early on. That was compounded when she and Oisin Murphy found more trouble, on the rail, about a furlong and a half from home.
In the circumstances, the pair performed wonders to make the frame and be beaten only 2¼ lengths.
Friendly Soul was quickest through the fifth furlong (12.47sec) and sixth furlong (11.79sec) plus easily best in the final furlong (12.37sec).
The daughter of Kingman might have been swiftest through the seventh furlong, too, had she not suffered more interference, but instead the winner grabbed a vital 0.36sec off her. For context, there was 0.43 seconds between them at the line.
Blue Bolt has since bolted up in the Falmouth Stakes and Friendly Soul now reverts to her optimum trip. Diamond Necklace is obviously a big threat but I'd have them much closer together in the betting.
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