Father Time

Sent off as favourite for a decent little 10-furlong listed race at Newmarket last Saturday on the back of a really encouraging effort in the Lingfield Derby Trial, Father Time didn't appear to be at all suited by the slow early pace. He got tapped for toe when the pace increased three furlongs out, then hung to his left running into the Dip. It wasn't until they started up the final climb to the line that he put his head down and began to run on, and he was catching the useful John Dunlop horse Palavicini (who finished behind Father Time on both horses' seasonal debuts at Newbury in April) all the way up the hill to the line to be closest at the finish. Henry Cecil's colt, under consideration for the Derby until this defeat, will be better when stepped up in distance to a mile and a half and he should be better when he is able to come off a stronger pace. He could be one for the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, when he should be taking on some fashionable Derby also-rans. Looking further ahead, races like the Gordon Stakes and the Great Voltigeur should also be on his radar.

23rd May 2009

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