If you were watching Lingfield on Saturday, you might have thought it was just another standard winter All-Weather card. But having crunched the numbers and looked under the bonnet of the tracking data, I can tell you there were two performances that were anything but standard.

In fact, we might have just seen a future Group winner masquerading in a handicap.

Here is the breakdown of what the data actually told us from Saturday, January 17th.

1. The Real Deal: Completely Random

Let’s not beat around the bush. The winner of the 12:40, Completely Random, put in a performance that was frankly ridiculous for a Class 3 handicap.

On a track that was riding ‘dead’ all day (most winners were running 4 to 6 seconds slower than standard), he broke the speed limit. He clocked a time of 1m 9.28s. To put that in perspective, the other 6f winners on the card were running 1m 11s or 1m 12s. That is a difference of about 10–12 lengths.

But it’s how he did it that matters. The sectional data shows he ran his final two furlongs in 10.75s and 10.75s. Usually, horses slow down at the finish; he didn’t flinch. He is officially rated 93, but the clock says he’s a 105+ horse. If he turns up on Finals Day, he wins. Simple as that.

2. The ‘Hidden’ Speedster

In the big race of the day, the Winter Oaks (1:15), everyone was rightly praising Ryan Moore for a masterclass on the winner, Morrophore. She’s a lovely mare and definitely one for the notebook in Listed company.

But did you see the runner-up, Sky Safari?

The tracking data flagged something incredible: Sky Safari clocked a furlong of 10.73s during the race. That was officially the fastest furlong run by any horse on the entire card—faster even than the sprint winner!

She got beaten because she made her move too early in a tactical race, but make no mistake: she has a jet engine. Back her next time she runs at a sharp track like Chelmsford or back here at Lingfield. She is pure speed.

3. The Hard Luck Story

If you backed Prince Of Pillo in the 12:40, look away now. The replay looks bad (he had nowhere to go), but the data makes it worse.

Despite being blocked repeatedly, his tracking sensors picked up an early acceleration (0-20mph) that was second-best in the field. He has the engine of a winner but never got to use it. The handicapper might drop him a pound or two for finishing 6th, which would be a gift. He is a winner waiting to happen—especially if he drops down to Class 4.

4. Don’t Sack Bolo Neighs

Finally, a word on Bolo Neighs, who finished second to our ‘freak’ winner in the 12:40. It’s easy to look at a 3-length defeat and say he’s reached his limit.

The data disagrees. He has a massive stride length (over 7.6 metres), which is actually too big for a tight, turning track like Lingfield. He was constantly having to organise his feet while the winner skipped away. Put him on a big, galloping track like Newcastle or York, and you’ll see a different horse.

The Bottom Line Saturday wasn’t just a day of average racing; it was a pointer to the future. Completely Random is a star in the making, and Sky Safari is the fastest filly we’ve seen in a while. Get them in your tracker.