Handicappers Corner: Below-form Camelot upstaged by Encke

Encke (right) defeats Camelot at Doncaster.
David Johnson dissects what Camelot's defeat means from a Timeform ratings perspective, and analyses the best of the rest of the action from Doncaster and the Curragh this week...
All eyes were on Town Moor on Saturday, Camelot aiming to become the first horse since Nijinsky in 1970 to win the Triple Crown (Oh So Sharp won the fillies' version in 1985), but he ultimately came up short behind Encke, who was winning the race for the sixth time for Godolphin.
The St Leger was run at a steadier pace than had been anticipated, the time around seven seconds slower to 4f out than the well-run contest the year before, and produced a timefigure of just 94. In terms of form achieved on the day though, it looks a typical St Leger. Historical standards give a range of 120-123, and whilst prior rating standards might point a little higher, Encke has been awarded a rating of 123.
Unsurprisingly, most of the focus afterwards fell on the runner-up rather than the winner, and in running to a performance figure of 122, Camelot has been adjudged to have run below the form he showed in both the 2,000 Guineas (123) and the Derby (his performance rating in the Irish Derby was 120).
Initially rated 130 after the Derby, Camelot's subsequent performances, as well of those of the beaten horses at Epsom have seen that figure revised downwards to 128, in line with the timefigure he recorded at Epsom. That makes it the joint-seventh highest-rated Derby-winning performance since the turn of the century.
Whilst connections continue to speak of Camelot in glowing terms, his form at present is that of just a high-class colt, one that will need to show improvement against his elders this autumn, or perhaps as a 4-y-o, if he's going to back up that faith on the track.
The St Leger Festival is supported by a number of other pattern races, one of the highlights on Friday being the Doncaster Cup. This was steadily run for a long way, and the form has a muddling look to it with around three lengths separating the first seven to finish. The first two from the Lonsdale dominated the finish, Times Up not having to improve on his rating of 117, and with a different weight-for-age scale to the BHA, runner-up, 4-y-o High Jinx comes out the better horse on Timeform figures at 118.
Like in the Gold Cup, Saddler's Rock was too keen, but he's now rated on the pick of this year's form (120) rather than his impressive win in last year's contest. With the Cesarewitch being an early closing race, the effort of Repeater in fourth could prove significant. If his seemingly improved effort of 117 is taken literally, he'd look potentially well ahead of the handicapper should he line up there, but he'll probably need a penalty to get in (entered at Yarmouth this week).
Perhaps the most interesting of the other action at Doncaster came in the 2-y-o contests. Sir Prancealot gave a reminder as to the strength of Reckless Abandon's French wins, earning a figure of 111 for his success in the Flying Childers, and he'll presumably meet his old rival again in the Middle Park next.
The May Hill might have been weakened on the day by a couple of withdrawals, but it's still hard to escape the conclusion that the efforts of the first two from there are above the usual level for the race. Certify and Purr Along earned ratings of 111p and 110 respectively for pulling eight lengths clear of the rest. The winner's timefigure of 112 suggests she could be rated a little higher still. Historically, it looks noteworthy form, Playful Act (111 in 2004) the only other winner rated higher than 110 in the last twenty years.
This year's Champagne Stakes looks a better race than has recently been the case and Toronado (114p) and Dundonnell (112p) confirmed themselves to be smart colts. There's clearly not much between them, and perhaps the excellent ride by Richard Hughes on the winner proved crucial on the day. Ashdan was also in action at the meeting, and though he wasn't contesting a pattern race, he will be soon. He maintained his unbeaten record in the 7f Conditions Stakes (won in 2010 by Frankel), earning a rating of 108p for beating No Jet Lag by a length and a half.
If Ashdan is kept to 7f, he could be Dewhurst bound, and that race looks the ideal target for Timeform's current top-rated 2-y-o Dawn Approach as he improved further and maintained his unbeaten record in the Vincent O'Brien Stakes.
Having missed a couple of engagements since the Coventry because of unsuitable ground, Dawn Approach ran out an easy winner of the race his trainer Jim Bolger won with his sire New Approach back in 2007, beating Designs On Rome by four and three quarter lengths.
Even in being awarded a rating of 121p, a conservative view of the National Stakes has been taken. Race standards would point to a figure in the mid-120s, but there was little depth to the latest running with Cristoforo Colombo a late absentee, whilst the runner-up who earned an increased rating from 94 to 106 had been beaten in a nursery off 89 on his previous start.
The other Group 1 action at the Curragh was the Irish St Leger which proved a substandard affair. The field finished unsatisfactorily bunched with less than half a length covering the first four home. For now Royal Diamond and Massiyn have been credited with ratings of 117, the joint-second lowest rating awarded to the winner since the race was opened up to older horses in 1984.