Tag Archive for: Time Lock

Time Lock too strong again in Princess Royal repeat

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Time Lock opened her account for the campaign with a successful defence of the Princess Royal Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Stakes at Newmarket.

Harry Charlton’s Frankel mare was a decisive winner of the Group Three contest 12 months ago, but subsequently disappointed on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot.

While the five-year-old had failed to add to her tally in three subsequent starts this term, she was placed in the Jockey Club Stakes in May and in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes on her most recent outing in July and she was a 13-8 favourite to rediscover the winning trail following a two-month break.

After being settled in third place for much of the mile and a half contest by Ryan Moore, Time Lock was asked to go about her business racing inside the final two furlongs and soon pulled clear of the pacesetting duo of Place Of Safety and Comic Book.

The result was never in any doubt thereafter, with Moore keeping his mount up to her work in the testing conditions to seal a five-length victory, with Comic Book pipping Place Of Safety to second.

Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s racing manager, said: “She obviously likes it here, that’s twice she’s won this race now. We’ll talk to the owners whether she will be retired or not.

“We had half an idea about whether or not to go to Hong Kong for the mile and a half race or not in December, Ryan just said that could be a good option for her depending on what’s in it.

“The owners would be delighted whether we retire her now or give her one more roll of the dice. She’ll retire either way at the end of this year to be bred from and she’s a nice broodmare prospect.”

Juddmonte have two other very smart middle-distance fillies in their ranks in Kalpana and Bluestocking for the rest of the season.

“Kalpana is in very good nick and she goes to Ascot for the Fillies & Mares on Champions Day,” continued Mahon.

“Bluestocking is going to do a bit in the morning and if Ralph (Beckett) is happy with everything, then we’ll probably look to supplement her for the Arc on Tuesday.”



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Princess Royal defence in Time Lock’s sights

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Time Lock could bow out on a high if she successfully defends her Princess Royal Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Stakes crown at Newmarket on Friday.

The Juddmonte homebred stormed to her first Group-level victory 12 months ago when she scored by four and a quarter lengths ahead of Sweet Memories.

The Frankel mare finished second in the Group Two Jockey Club Stakes over the same 12 furlongs she faces here back in May and has not run since finishing third in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes in July.

Giavellotto, centre left, on their way to winning the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket
Time Lock, left, came third on her last start at Newmarket (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA)

Barry Mahon, European racing manager for Juddmonte, hinted the 15th start of her career is likely to be Time Lock’s final appearance on the track, unless conditions suit for a last hurrah, as the Harry Charlton-trained five-year-old leads a field of eight.

He said: “She’s had a nice break, a little freshen up and she’s going back to familiar territory having won this race last year.

“She’s coming up to the last race of her career, maybe her second last depending on ground conditions, but she’s in good form and Harry is really happy with her, so we are hopeful of a good one.

“We wouldn’t want to have too much rain, (I’m) not sure what the weather’s like but she wouldn’t want it too soft.”

John and Thady Gosden’s Place Of Safety leads the younger rivals alongside Mistral Star, who is looking to build on a Listed success at the July course for Hughie Morrison.

Sea Of Roses, trained by Andrew Balding, arrives on the back of victory in the August Stakes at Windsor, Divina Grace is a course-and-distance winner for Rae Guest and David Simcock has Hollie Doyle booked for Sinology.

Comic Book represents Jessica Harrington and the line-up is completed by Charlie Johnston’s Francophone.

The Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Joel Stakes looks set to be a hot contest despite the small field of six over the mile.

Karl Burke’s Ice Max comes into the contest on the back of Group Two success in the Celebration Mile Stakes at Goodwood last month and will renew his rivalry with Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Poker Face, who he beat in that race by a length.

Prague was second last time out at Haydock for Dylan Cunha and he steps up to Group Two level for the first time, while Dancing Gemini is seeking a first win of the year for Roger Teal having been set some stiff tasks.

Kinross wins the Betfred Champagne Stakes on day three of the Betfred St Leger Festival
Lead Artist, second left, will step back up to a mile after finishing second behind Kinross in the Champagne Stakes (Mike Egerton/PA)

The Gosden-trained Lead Artist returns to a mile after finishing second to Kinross when dropped to seven furlongs for the first time in the Park Stakes at Doncaster on St Leger Day.

“He’s come out of it (Doncaster) great, I thought he ran a good race beaten by a quick horse on the day,” Mahon said of the Juddmonte colt.

“Dropping back to seven (furlongs) wasn’t ideal, but we didn’t get to run at Goodwood (in the Celebration Mile) with heavy ground so it didn’t leave us with a huge amount of options. He ran a good race, back up to a mile will suit and he wouldn’t want too much rain.

“We said we would roll the dice, he’s a lightly-raced horse, didn’t run at two, so the experience has done him good and in fairness, Kinross is a warrior. He looked very good that day.”

The Ralph Beckett-trained Task Force has been knocking on the door in Group company this season and will be ridden by Ryan Moore for the first time at Newmarket.

He is a second Juddmonte contender after taking fourth place on his last start when trying nine furlongs in the Strensall Stakes at York.

Mahon added: “He’s had a little freshen up since York so he’s in good shape and in an ideal world you wouldn’t be running them together, but opportunities are few and far between so we’ll roll the dice and see how we get on.

“Rossa (Ryan) has been brilliant on him all year to be fair, but as he tends to do, Ryan does ride for us when he’s free and he has no commitments. We are lucky to secure his services on Friday and hopefully we will be able to reap the rewards.”



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Staying prizes on Arrest’s agenda following Newmarket second

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Arrest will likely step back up in trip having returned to near his best when second in Newmarket’s Princess of Wales’s Stakes.

Sent off favourite for last year’s Derby before finishing second in the St Leger, the highly-regarded son of Frankel is yet to get his head in front in three starts this year.

However, after a respectable second at Chester, the John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old showed plenty of zest when encountering his preferred going on the July Course, making a bold bid before being overtaken late in the day by Marco Botti’s Giavellotto.

Arrest finished a place ahead of fellow Juddmonte-owned Time Lock and the colt could now be aimed at the Curragh’s Comer Group International Irish St Leger on September 16 as connections seek both a move up in trip and a return to the winner’s enclosure.

Arrest (left) chased home Giavellotto at Newmarket
Arrest (left) chased home Giavellotto at Newmarket (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)

“The two of them ran beautiful races and Arrest was back to somewhere near last year’s form,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.

“Kieran (Shoemark, jockey) thought he would improve again for that run and he is a horse we will look at something like the Irish St Leger with, or even the race on Champions Day (Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup, Ascot, October 19) later in the year.

“He’s a horse who likes a bit of cut in the ground as we know and it’s good to have him back – hopefully we can look forward to an exciting second half of the season.

“He loves getting his toe in and in fairness to him, he likes a race where there is a good tempo and he can get into a nice rhythm and when he does that he is very effective. When there is a slow, messy pace it is not really his cup of tea. He’s a big horse, big stride and he just likes to have a nice rhythm.”

Time Lock winning on the Rowley Mile in 2023
Time Lock winning on the Rowley Mile in 2023 (Tim Goode/PA)

Meanwhile, Harry Charlton’s Time Lock will head to the Qatar Goodwood Festival as she continues her quest for black type in her swansong campaign.

Mahon added: “She ran a great race and is a filly who will go to the paddocks at the end of the year and has just finished second in a Group Two.

“It is more black type for the family and we will look at Goodwood for her. There’s two races for her there, the Lillie Langtry and the Glorious Stakes and she will have options in both.

“She is a filly we will just keep bashing away with in group company before she retires at the end of the year.”



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Connections confident Naqeeb has progressed enough to ask Gold Cup question

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Naqeeb has a long way to go to emulate his half-brothers Baaeed and Hukum but there is every chance he can develop into a smart performer this season ahead of his reappearance in Friday’s William Hill Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket.

While Baaeed never raced beyond 10 furlongs in establishing himself as the best of his generation, Hukum did win over a mile and three-quarters, giving hope Naqeeb could prove himself over two miles this season.

He has been entered in the Gold Cup at Ascot but starts out over a mile and a half and, having been unraced at two and only had six races in his life, the William Haggas-trained four-year-old is entitled to have plenty of progression in him.

“He was always a horse that was physically going to improve as he got older,” said Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell.

“We’ve gelded him since last year, they are happy with him at home and it looks a good place to start.

“He will get further in due course, but we just want to get him back on track and see where we are.

“We’ve put him in the Gold Cup in case he does stay. At this stage there is nothing to say he will (stay that far), but he stayed a mile and six last year, he’s a lovely, galloping horse and progressive, so we need to start him and he’ll give us a clue which way to go with him.”

Having won a £100,000 handicap under a big weight, Naqeeb made his last appearance in a Listed race but, despite going off favourite, never looked happy in finishing third.

Naqeeb
Naqeeb, right, is pencilled in for the Gold Cup next month (Tim Goode/PA)

Gold said: “His last run may have just been at the end of a long season, but he also hung badly that day at Ascot and we never found out why. He clearly didn’t run his race though, so we’ll count that one out and start again fresh.”

Harry Charlton’s Time Lock was a Group Three winner last season and ended up running on Champions Day behind Poptronic.

A course and distance winner, she hails from a yard that has started the season well. Ryan Moore has been booked to ride.

“She obviously likes Newmarket, she’s won there twice, so she handles the track and hopefully the weather will stay good as she likes a bit of good ground,” said Barry Mahon of owners Juddmonte.

“She’s fit and well and appears to be in good form, so we’re hopeful. She’s a Group Three winner so we’re looking to take the next step and this looks a nice opportunity.

Time Lock has already won twice at Newmarket
Time Lock has already won twice at Newmarket (Tim Goode/PA)

“Harry has had the plan since February that this is where he was starting. She’s taking on good, solid, older horses, but there doesn’t look to be an outstanding individual in it.”

Charlie Appleby runs Great Voltigeur second Castle Way and King Of Conquest and told the Godolphin website of his pair: “King Of Conquest is fairly exposed as a five-year-old but he is a solid horse who always runs his race.

“Castle Way definitely needed the run in the Dubai City Of Gold and has come forward significantly for it, while the ground at Newmarket will suit. He showed some decent form as a three-year-old and goes into this in good order with that run under his belt. I hope we have two live players.”

Astro King represents Daniel and Claire Kubler while Outbox for Archie Watson and Hollie Doyle completes the field.



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Charlton banking on Time Lock to kick-start new era

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Harry Charlton is backing Time Lock to bring a little star quality to his string as he prepares for his first summer as the sole licence holder at Beckhampton.

Having shared the licence with his Derby-winning father Roger since 2022, the duo prepared Thesis to strike at Royal Ascot that summer and enjoyed notable success with Time Lock last term.

The daughter of Frankel registered an emphatic win in the Group Three Princess Royal Stakes at Newmarket for the joint-operation in September.

After two seasons working in tandem, Roger Charlton relinquished his share of the licence at the end of 2023, allowing his son to assume full control at the family’s Wiltshire base.

Looking forward to the new turf season kicking into gear, the new Beckhampton number one has high hopes for stable star Time Lock, with a return to the Rowley Mile for the Jockey Club Stakes on May 3 the likely first port of call for the Juddmonte-owned five-year-old.

“It’s very exciting and we’re just about to get going,” said Charlton.

“We just need it to stop raining and get some runners on the track and hopefully have some nice winners.

Harry Charlton is now sole license holder at Beckhampton
Harry Charlton is now sole licence holder at Beckhampton (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We’re excited to have Time Lock still in training, she’s a nice filly and will hopefully head to the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket on Guineas weekend. It’s nice to have a bit of quality around to take you to the big days, as it were.

“We’ve also got some really nice three-year-olds, so it’s exciting and the next month or two will tell us how exciting, but we’re really looking forward to getting going.”



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Time Lock set to have assistance of William Buick on Champions Day

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William Buick will partner Time Lock for the first time this season in the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot.

Narrowly beaten by fellow Juddmonte-owned filly Haskoy in the Galtres Stakes at York last year, the daughter of Frankel was beaten on her first four starts of the current campaign before registering a confidence-boosting Listed success in France last month.

That teed Time Lock up for the Group Three Princess Royal Stakes at Newmarket two weeks ago and she again impressed under Ryan Moore, to leave connections eyeing up a tilt at Group One glory on Qipco British Champions Day.

Harry Charlton, who trains the four-year-old in partnership with his father, Roger, said: “Time Lock is in good form and the Ascot race looks the obvious race for her to run in.

“As long as the Juddmonte team are happy and the filly is in good form then we’ll look to run her there and William Buick will ride her.

“William rode her twice last year, he rode her at Haydock and was second on her in the Galtres, and he’s been saying all year if there was ever a chance he’d love to ride her again.

“Charlie (Appleby) hasn’t got a runner in the Ascot race and Ryan Moore, who rode Time Lock last time, will ride one of Aidan O’Brien’s, I assume, so that’s really the reasoning.”

Harry Charlton at Newmarket
Harry Charlton at Newmarket (Mike Egerton/PA)

Charlton feels a combination of boosted confidence and the prevailing ground conditions at Newmarket contributed to her uplift in form.

He added: “The race she won in France was not a strong one, but she won it well and it might have just given her a little bit of confidence.

“More than anything, we ran on very quick ground at Haydock twice earlier in the year and then very soft ground at Goodwood. I think in the middle ground, like she got at Newmarket the other day, probably suited her on a nice, galloping track like that.”

Last weekend the Charlton team came mighty close to landing the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket, with ante-post favourite Greek Order beaten half a length by Astro King in the prestigious handicap.

The three-year-old son of Kingman could return to the Rowley Mile next month in a bid to go one better.

Greek Order (front) in action at Sandown
Greek Order (front) in action at Sandown (Adam Davy/PA)

“He’s come out of the race great. He didn’t win, but he ran a super race and we couldn’t be happier with him really,” said Charlton.

“We were under no illusions that because he went off such a short price (5-2) it was sort of assumed that he would win, but we all know winning 35-runner handicaps is not that easy and there are plenty of variables at play.

“We would have loved some rain and it didn’t come, but we’re proud of him and it’s onwards and upwards from here.

“If he’s OK and as long as Prince Khalid’s family are happy, we’ll have a look at running him in the James Seymour Stakes at Newmarket on November 4. It’s a Listed race over 10 furlongs, which is probably more his trip, and the ground might be a little softer by then as well.

“It was the quickest ground he’s run on in the Cambridgeshire and he obviously handled it, but we think he might be a little bit better with some cut.”



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