Time Test (pink cap) wins the York Stakes in July

 PICTURE: Martin Lynch (racingpost.com/photos)

Time Test will not run at York, says Charlton

TRAINER Roger Charlton has revealed that Time Test, one of the leading challengers to Postponed in next week’s Juddmonte International Stakes at York, will miss the race.

Time Test, owned by race sponsor Khalid Abdullah, won the York Stakes over the same course and distance last month but Charlton said that all had not gone smoothly since.

“He worked this morning with Countermeasure, his normal lead horse,” the trainer told Racing UK. “Every time he’s worked this year he’s moved up on the bridle and then quickens four or five lengths clear. Today he just worked a little bit flat.”

Charlton added: “He moved up as if he’s going to go winging past him but didn’t. His regular rider said he thought he worked a bit flat and it wasn’t him. The Juddmonte next week is naturally a proper Group 1 race with some very good horses in it but there’s no point running in a race like that if your gut feeling tells you the horse isn’t 100 per cent so we decided to scratch.”

Asked about future plans for Time Test, Charlton said: “We’ll go through the normal tests, give him a break and I guess he will tell us where he’s going to run but it’s too early to say.”

Time Test had been available at 9-2 and was 4-1 second-favourite on many lists for the International, along with Hawkbill to whom he was third in the Eclipse.

William Hill, Paddy Power and Betfair responded by cutting Postponed to evens favourite (from 6-4). The same firms all cut Hawkbill to 7-2, with King George winner Highland Reel now third in the betting at 6-1.

Fair Eva on target for the Lowther

Charlton had more positive updates on Fair Eva (Lowther Stakes), Imperial Aviator (Great Voltigeur) and Quest For More (Lonsdale Cup), who all remain on track for a trip to Yorkshire.

Charlton said: “George Baker rode Fair Eva this morning on our summer gallops and she worked with a lead horse over five and half/six furlongs and he was impressed. She looks very well.

He added: “Like all things we need to get through the next few days but she’s in good shape and we’re looking forward to seeing her run at York.”

Clearly smitten with the ante-post Qipco 1,000 Guineas favourite, Charlton added: “She’s different in that she’s better than horses I’ve dealt with in the past. Sadly, we don’t seem to get lots of really amazing two-year-olds but she’s certainly pretty special.

“She’s got a great temperament and she’s a great eater. A lot of horses that move very well don’t actually quicken but she gets down low and quickens. We saw that at Haydock and Ascot and I think if she’d been more vigorously ridden at Ascot she would have broken the track record.”

 

Caravaggio winning the Phoenix Stakes on Sunday

 PICTURE: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos

Caravaggio given Middle Park Stakes option

PHOENIX STAKES winner Caravaggio, currently as short as 5-2 for next year’s 2,000 Guineas, is among 49 entries for the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on September 24, which were released on Wednesday.

Aidan O’Brien reported earlier in the week that, while the Prix Morny and a highly-anticipated clash with Lady Aurelia is under consideration for his star juvenile, that Newmarket could be where he is next seen.

Also among the Middle Park entries are Mehmas and Blue Point, first and second in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood, Prix Robert Papin winner Tis Marvellous and Yalta, who might well be seen next in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

Godolphin are responsible for nine of the entries, as are the Magnier-Tabor-Smith axis from Coolmore.

A similar entry, 47, was received for the Cheveley Park Stakes on the same card. Lady Aurelia is the headline act, with Princess Margaret Stakes winner Fair Eva the other major name among the entries.

Coolmore dominate Royal Lodge

A much larger entry of 85 was received for the Royal Lodge Stakes over two furlongs further the same afternoon. Aidan O’Brien has won the race five times and has a strong hand in pursuit of a sixth.

His 18 entries include the much-vaunted Finn McCool, due to make his debut at Leopardstown on Thursday. Also in the field is Chesham Stakes winner Churchill. Isomer and Cunco, second and third to Churchill at Ascot, also feature, as does Seniority, the Royal-owned winner of a Newmarket maiden last week.

The Rockfel Stakes, to be staged the day before, has plenty of overlap with the Cheveley Park with the exception of the speedy Lady Aurelia. Fair Eva and Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes winner Roly Poly head the 75-strong entry.

fonte : RacingPost