Hove staged their first two 490m trials today. They were won by Miles Of Smiles in 29.33 and Ballylark Dainty in 29.25 (both -10).
It is difficult to assess the relative times on the basis of those trials. Miles Of Smiles was A4 back in the summer but it was her first four bend outing following recent sprints – best 16.91.
Ballylark Dainty is a D1 sprinter (best 16.59c), who simply didn’t see out the 515m and last contested A9.
So what kind of times can we expect from top quality runners over the new distance? Comparing race distances, certainly between tracks is wide open to error.
So, not to be taken too seriously, we thought we would have a stab at it.
Away Shelly is fastest of the year in 27.43, just one spot off the clock. The 515m track record is 29.10 but that is a very old clock held by Barnfield On Air (2007), when the track was much quicker. The best this year is King Turbo’s 29.52. In the last five years, the fastest time is Ballymac Mossjoe’s 29.45.
Working to Mossjoe’s time gives us a differential of 202 spots. Go to midway between the two distances, you get 495m, which presumably would equate to a 28.44 run. Take off the five metres and you end up with a potential track record of 28.04 – give or take.
Which suggests the Hove 490m closest equivalent is probably Nottingham’s 480m (TR 28.07) – very very roughly!
