Sectional timing master class

THE 2026 WSB Met run in 123 seconds was the fastest Met since One World's 122.48 seconds of 2020.

- DAVID THISELTON

The race record of 122,1 seconds set by Bunter Barlow in 2001.Before analysing the 226 sectionals let's just look at the running order.

Okavango

Okavango was the early pacemaker before The Equator took it up just as they entered the first turn.

Next best was Legal Counsel and then Native Ruler who was caught wide.

Behind that was Sail The Seas and Eight On Eighteen was on the rail inside of the latter.

See It Again was three wide down the back straight, but fortunately Native Ruler had been kept wide and he was able to follow him.

When Native Ruler managed to get into a two wide position alongside Legal Counsel rounding the turn See It Again was not inconvenienced because Fortune managed to slot in behind Sail The Seas, although not without apparently inconveniencing Garrix slightly.

The stipendiary stewards read that incident differently and have the best view of things. Garrix was rousted when See It Again began moving across and he cramped Cosmic Speed on his inside before being snatched up to avoid See It Again.

The Stipendiary report simply read: At the 1000m COSMIC SPEED (G Lerena) took an awkward stride when tightened for galloping room between the inside running rail and GARRIX (K de Melo).

Behind Cosmic Speed was Gladatorian, who had jumped slowly and lost a length.

The Real Prince was sitting in last place and Craig Zackey had likely read it correctly, because the sectionals had been fast.