Photo: Kenton Wright, Race Images
About Time (American Pharoah) was a rising star in the staying ranks as a three-year-old, and 12 months later, the Cambridge Stud mare collected another holiday feature with a powerful display in Dunstan Stayers Championship Final (2400m) on Boxing Day.
The daughter of American Pharoah had burst on to the scene in December last year, placing in the Listed Trevor and Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m) and winning the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) on New Year’s Day.
She was spelled after finishing back in the Gr.2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m), and after building up to her ideal middle-distance trip this preparation, she put a flashing light on herself winning the Dunstan Qualifying race at Ellerslie earlier this month.
Returning for the final at Ellerslie, About Time started a warm favourite at $3.70 and in her usual fashion, was slightly cantankerous behind the barriers prior to the start. With her regular rider Warren Kennedy in the saddle, the mare settled down and jumped away beautifully, finding a comfortable position on the fence in the first half of the field.
Spectrier set the tempo which was only leisurely along the back straight and the field compressed heavily turning for home, leaving About Time in an awkward spot on straightening. Kennedy didn’t panic and the gap eventually came for the mare at the 300m, and while a game High Country pounced to the lead, About Time was quickly on his tail and out-muscled the gelding in the closing stages, drawing away to score by an extending 1 – ¼ lengths.
Unequivocal and Central Districts raider Tikemyson both produced massive runs from back in the field to fill the first four.
Lance Noble, who trains the mare out of Karaka, admitted to a few anxious moments before the race but was delighted with the final result.
“It’s really satisfying, she always gives you little heart palpitations at the start whether she’s going to go in and behave, but the starting gate crew have done a fantastic job and I’m very grateful to them,” Noble said.
“We had a lovely draw and Warren rode her really well and she was just too good.
“She’s got a bit stronger this year and more mature. Last year, she did it all in one prep, whereas she’s had a break and a spell and is very, very promising.”
The four-year-old holds a nomination for the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) on New Year’s Day where she currently sits an equal-favourite at $4 with Nereus, but Noble indicated she is not assured to start in the feature.
“We’re not sure if we’ll go there, I’ll have to talk to Henry Plumptre and Brendan and Jo and think about that,” he said.
“My gut feeling is no, but we’ll see how she does in the next couple of days.”
The victory secured a double at the SkyCity Boxing Day Races for Cambridge Stud’s private trainer and Kennedy, who combined to win the juvenile contest with exciting filly Romala.
“It’s very rewarding, as most people know it’s not just me, it’s our whole team at the farm that makes this happen,” Noble said.
“You work backwards from targets, this is where you want to be on these days so to get them here is rewarding in itself, and to then perform and be consistently doing so is what it’s all about.”
Bred by Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay, About Time is out of a Fastnet Rock mare Romantic Time, making her a half-sister to multiple Australian Group One performer Young Werther.
Alongside the son of Tavistock, Romantic Time has also produced Listed placegetter Romantic Lady and Villaden, who has won eight races in Australia.
