Te Akau Treble - Time Is King Reigns

Taking the bull by the horns, Time Is King (3 g Darci Brahma – Tiffany’s Time, by Alamosa) won the $17,000 Maiden 1600 metres on 27 June at Riccarton. 

Continuing to improve, Time Is King had swept around to lead at the 600m point before yielding late for fourth in the Maiden 1400 metres there (poly track) on 13 June, and rated a top three chance from barrier seven.

With Ashvin Goindasamy aboard, who has formed a good association with Te Akau, riding track work and races from their base at Riccarton, Time Is King was ridden with an intent to lead. He received a kind sectional through the mid-stages, and had enough in reserve to hold the challengers at bay.

In The Show Gate Riccarton Park Maiden, Time Is King ran the mile in 1:36.2 (poly track) and drifted in betting fluctuations from $3.50 to pay $5.10 & $1.60 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a good positive ride by Ashvin to lead, steady the speed, and then kick on strongly,” said Mark Walker, who trains with Sam Bergerson.

“He’s been quite an immature horse, physically, and has just taken time to strengthen in order to handle a preparation. He’s definitely getting stronger as time goes on and we’ve continued to see that reflect in his racing, so it was a deserved win.

“Quite often when a horse like him wins, it gives them the confidence to go on with it.”

Owned by the Te Akau Royal Duo Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Time Is King was bred at Te Akau Stud by Te Akau Stud, Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM and GN & CM Bloodstock, from a mare purchased as a yearling by David Ellis CNZM at Karaka.

Bred by Greg Tomlinson (Nearco Stud), Tiffany’s Time was sold through the Bradbury Park draft, and trained by Te Akau she won twice over 1400 metres.

“She was a beautiful looking filly with a nice Northern Dancer cross through the sires on both sides of her pedigree,” Ellis recalled.  

“She had terrific balance, exuded class, and was from an imported stakes' winning daughter of More Than Ready (Southern Halo) – a sire that has done a fantastic job at stud.” 

Her sire, Alamosa (O’Reilly), was a super racehorse that won three races as a two-year-old, including the Diamond Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m), adding the Thorndon Mile (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Trentham, and Toorak Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) at Caulfield. 

Time Is King is the first foal from Tiffany’s Time, who also has a two-year-old sister in the stable named Queen Of Naples, a yearling sister named Filigree, and weanling colt by Embellish (Savabeel).

Time Is King became the second winner in succession by Darci Brahma (Danehill), after Malmaison won a day earlier for Walker and Bergerson at Cambridge.

Purchased by Ellis as a yearling at Karaka, Darci Brahma was trained by Mark Walker to record five Group One victories which included the T. J. Smith Stakes (1600m) in Brisbane, as a two-year-old, 2000 Guineas (1600m), and Telegraph Handicap (1200m). He was Champion 2YO, Champion 3YO and Champion Sprinter/Miler as a 4YO.

The Multiple Champion Stallion has sired over 1850 winners: 96 stakes' winners, including 16 Group One, the likes of Super Easy, Catalyst, Gust Of Wind, Nashville, Kahma Lass, Recite, Risque, Irish Fling, and many other gifted and hardy thoroughbreds.

Time Is King was strapped by Hollie Smith. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz