Charlton Sings Time Test Praises

One day removed from his victory in Newmarket’s G2 Joel S., trainer Roger Charlton said Saturday he thinks Khalid Abdullah’s Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) will “end up being a better horse” than his former stablemate and four-time Group 1 winner Al Kazeem (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

“He’s been immature and the future is ahead of us,” said Charlton of the 3-year-old.

Time Test was an eye-catching 3 1/4-length winner of Royal Ascot’s G3 Tercentenary S. on his stakes debut in June and went into York’s G1 Juddmonte International with high expectations Aug. 19, but could manage only fourth on that occasion. Connections regrouped and dropped him back in class for the Joel and were rewarded. Time Test is now as low as 6-1 for the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile, and also has an option in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. on British Champions Day at Ascot Oct. 17.

“We will keep all options open and give him entries here, there and everywhere,” Charlton said. “Ryan [Moore] said faster ground will suit him better and that is handy for either the Breeders’ Cup, if we go there, or Hong Kong or next year if we don’t go anywhere. If the ground was slow he wouldn’t go to Ascot, so the next option would be the Breeders’ Cup, but he wouldn’t do both.” He added, “I’d personally like to think we would go to the Breeders’ Cup but it is down to Juddmonte Farms and Khalid Abdullah. We will keep all options open. The Breeders’ Cup is slightly different–they are scrambling for positions–but he has no shortage of speed. I would think it would really suit him.”