Time Is King Reigns at Riccarton

Presented in terrific order, Time Is King (4 g Darci Brahma – Tiffany’s Time, by Alamosa) dominantly won the $18,500 Rating 60 1200 metres on 11 September at Riccarton.

Striking ground too heavy in the Rating 65 1600 metres on 16 August at Oamaru, Time Is King dropped in grade and distance for the assignment.

A winner previously on the poly track, over 1600 metres in June at Riccarton, Time Is King was freshened by trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson and had the addition of blinkers.

Intent on leading but taken on through the early stages, Time Is King eventually settled into a good rhythm for jockey Ashvin Goindasamy and appeared to travel best of the field on straightening at the 400m mark. It was obvious mid-straight, when galloping strongly, that he had his opposition in trouble.

In the race sponsored by Racecourse Hotel & Motor Lodge, Time Is King ran 1200 metres in 1:09.8 on the poly track, won by one and a quarter lengths, and somewhat surprisingly drifted from an earlier $4.60 quote to pay $7.40 & $2.40 on the NZ TAB tote.

“It was a really good win today and a lovely ride of Ashvin’s,” Walker said. 

“Ashvin’s a very important member of our South Island team, riding work, gives great feedback, and it’s great to reward him with wins in the tangerine (colours).

“Time Is King has had a few hiccups along the way, but the owners have been patient, allowed us to work things through, and he’s just getting that little bit stronger now, both physically and mentally.

“I think he’ll continue to improve as he matures and he could be an even better horse, with a bit more time, in the autumn.”

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

Bred by Greg Tomlinson (Nearco Stud), his dam Tiffany’s Time was sold through the Bradbury Park draft, and when 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 from an imported stakes' winning daughter of More Than Ready (Southern Halo) – a sire that has done a fantastic job at stud.” 

The sire of Tiffany’s Time, 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 three-year-old sister, Queen Of Naples, and two-year-old sister Filigree in the stable, and she has an as-yet-unnamed yearling colt by Embellish (Savabeel).

Time Is King was one of two runners for the stable at the meeting, with recent winner Moon Rocket (Merchant Navy), ridden by Tina Comignaghi, doing a good job finishing second in the Rating 65 1400 metres.

Time Is King was strapped by Grace Stevenson. 

Photo credit - Ajay Berry - www.raceimages.co.nz