The fortunes may have turned against Time Test (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) more often than not so far, but after a respectable third in the G1 Eclipse S. on unsuitably rain-softened ground at Sandown three weeks ago, the Juddmonte homebred starts again in Saturday's G2 Sky Bet York S. At least he has the summer ground connections have been expecting and hoping for for so long now as he bids to add to his prior wins in last year's G3 Tercentenary S. at Royal Ascot and G2 Joel S. at Newmarket and the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. on his 4-year-old bow at Sandown May 26. As he was in the Eclipse, he will be helped along by stable companion Countermeasure (GB) (American Post {GB}), who either excelled himself when fourth in that 10-furlong highlight or casts serious doubt on the form.
“I was really pleased with Time Test's Eclipse run,” said trainer Roger Charlton. “Before the race I wasn't sure I was going to run as it kept raining and it was soft. It was a rough old race and there were a few bumps down the back, but I thought he stayed on well. He wasn't good enough on the day, but I'd like to think on fast ground he'd be better. It would be nice to win a Group 2, if we can.”
Despite disappointing when beating only one rival of the dozen who contested the G1 Lockinge S. over a mile at Newbury May 14, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum's Mahsoob (GB) (Dansili {GB}) is back over a more suitable trip now. Previously, he had beaten Air Pilot (GB) (Zamindar) in the nine-furlong G3 Earl of Sefton S. at Newmarket Apr. 13, and the latter re-opposes after subsequently capturing the G3 Prix la Coupe over this trip at Chantilly June 22.
“Mahsoob ran no sort of race last time out in the Lockinge,” Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold commented. “He had been training and working well beforehand but for some sort of reason, which we couldn't discover, he ran no sort of race at all. We have given him a break and John [Gosden] has brought him back gently. They seem very happy with at home and hopefully we can get him back into form. John has been quoted as saying that he thought Mahsoob had more speed than stamina, hence why we dropped him back in trip for the Lockinge, but he was beaten after three furlongs that day. He has won over a mile and quarter before, so the trip on Saturday should be fine for him.”
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