• Time Test stormed to victory in the Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot
• Colt came home three and a quarter lengths ahead of the Queen’s Peacock 

By

Pa Reporter

Published:
00:26 GMT, 19 June 2015

|
Updated:
00:26 GMT, 19 June 2015

Roger Charlton feels Time Test could take over the mantle from Al Kazeem after the lightly-raced colt proved a different class to his opponents in the Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Al Kazeem has been Charlton’s stable star in recent seasons with a string of victories at the top level and that is where Time Test will be heading as he successfully stepped up to Group Three company.

The 15-8 favourite closed on the leaders soon after the home turn under a confident Frankie Dettori ride and it was clear he had far more to give than his opponents.

Jockey Frankie Dettori celebrates after winning the Tercentenary Stakes riding Time Test

Once allowed to stride on, Charlton’s emerging star showed thrilling acceleration to seal the deal and came home three and a quarter lengths ahead of the Queen’s Peacock.

Charlton said: ‘Last year, he was a bit fragile mentally and there was a bit of sweating today, but he was brilliant.

‘Two furlongs out, one and a half out he’s on the bridle, and Frankie’s said ‘let’s go’. For a minute maybe, he hesitated or didn’t really know what to do, but he won and it was a commanding performance

Dettori celebrates with trademark flying dismount after winning the Tercentenary Stakes

‘We’ve taken our time with this horse and the owner has been patient, and we’re rewarded with a nice horse.

‘If he develops to be as tough as Al Kazeem we’ve got a lot to look forward to. He’s got more speed than Al Kazeem, but we’ll see.’

One possible target is the Juddmonte International at York in August, sponsored by Time Test’s owner Khalid Abdullah.

Time Test proved a different class to his opponents in the Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot

‘I think we will stay at a mile and a quarter for now – he has plenty of speed,’ said Charlton.

‘The problem here is that there aren’t any progressive races for three-year-old colts and you are immediately having to take on older horses, because there isn’t such a thing as a Group Two race for a three-year-old between now and the end of the year.

‘There are in France, so maybe we will go there – we will wait and see. He’ll certainly have an entry in the Juddmonte International at York, for obvious reasons, and maybe by then he’s up to it, maybe not.’

Dettori celebrates with the trophy after winning the Tercentenary Stakes during Ladies Day

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Abdullah said: ‘He’s done really well and progressed well. Roger has done a great job with him.

‘He’s matured, that’s the great thing, both mentally and physically.

‘It’s really exciting. We’ll have to see about the Juddmonte International. It would be a nice option.’

Dettori said: ‘What a lovely horse. He’s like a bicycle. You can put him wherever you want.

‘He feels like a Group One horse. What he showed today, not many horses can do.’

While Dettori was taking his Royal Ascot career tally to 51, Ryan Moore made it a record-equalling eight for the week and 35 in all.

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