Confirmed to make his racing return in this weekend’s Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick, trainer Gerald Ryan is particularly confident of success for classy colt Time For War following an impressive hit-out on Tuesday morning.
Time For War will return to racing into this weekend's Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes. Photo: Daniel Costello
Jumping from the gates well in his Rosehill work, Time For War matched it with renowned stable mate Rubick stride for stride for much of the run, stunning all onlookers bar Ryan himself who was not at all surprised by the impressive displaying.
Unable to string together much of a consistent run of form despite securing several impressive results over the 2014 Autumn Carnival, Ryan said he has always had a high opinion of the son of Snitzel and confirmed the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 1st will figure as the major target should his form warrant a trip south.
“I’m not surprised by that, and I believe Time For War was the most underrated two-year-old in NSW,” Ryan told The Daily Telegraph.
“He won two Group 2s, ran fourth in a Group 1 and I couldn’t believe he wasn’t nominated for two-year-old of the year.
“He has been working really well. He has been working with Rubick, but because it’s Rubick nobody has taken any notice.
“He’ll run on Saturday and then in the Brian Crowley (Listed, 1200m, Randwick, October 18th). If his form warrants it, he’ll head to Melbourne for the Coolmore. But I’ll follow the same program as Hot Snitzel, where I give him two runs in the spring after a Queensland (winter campaign).”
Confirmed to partner the Time For War in the Roman Consul Stakes, Tye Angland was thrilled with the feel offered up by the three-year-old in Tuesday’s work and is confident of a successful return to the track on Saturday.
“He pulled up and had a good blow, but I think he’ll be competitive on Saturday,” Angland said.
“He gave me a great feel. I didn’t cross Rubick, I sat two lengths off the rail, holding my horse together and although Rubick pulled away on the line, my horse is much bigger and heavier and he’ll improve off that.”
Securing three race wins from his six competitive starts so far, Time For War won the Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at the beginning of his autumn preparation; progressing to a luckless run for fourth when blocked for a run in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on April 12th, and while disappointing in the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m) on May 10th, returned to the winner’s circle when taking out the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) most notably on May 24th.
Confirmed alongside just five other three-year-olds for the Roman Consul Stakes, Time For War will undoubtedly face tough competition from the likes of Golden Rose champion Hallowed Crown.
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