Now is the right Time
Having been off the track for nearly a year, Appleby's filly made an impressive return when winning the Lancashire Oaks and it looks as if their patience is being rewarded
PATIENCE has been the key to Endless Time and connections of the four-year-old filly are optimistic their faith will be rewarded in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks at York on Thursday.
The daughter of Sea The Stars kept a low profile last season and was allowed to come through the ranks steadily, though victory over subsequent St Leger winner Simple Verse in a Goodwood handicap showed she had plenty of potential.
Signing off with a Listed success at Naas on October, Endless Time was not rushed and it was only in early July that the Charlie Appleby-trained filly, owned by Godolphin, made her reappearance.
She came through the step up to Group Two company in the Lancashire Oaks with flying colours as she overcame her long absence to strike by half a length from Furia Cruzada.
"She is a filly that we've taken our time with," said Godolphin chief executive John Ferguson.
"She won a Listed race last year and Charlie has been very, very patient - her first race (in 2016) being the Lancashire Oaks on Eclipse day,
"We gave her a good break after that, the Yorkshire Oaks was always the idea and we're delighted that she can take her chance.
"She's got good form on soft ground but she's also got good form on quick ground.
"She's flexible and she's very well. Charlie is very pleased with her."
Queen's Trust bids to open her Group One account at the second attempt after chasing home dual Classic winner Minding in the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
That race was over a mile and a quarter but she showed she does get this trip of a mile and a half when putting in her best work at the finish when fourth behind Even Song in the Ribblesdale Stakes.
"I was very happy with her run at Goodwood but she showed in the Ribblesdale (Stakes at Royal Ascot) that a mile and a half suits her just as well," said her trainer Sir Michael Stoute.
"We're going to have a crack."
Harlequeen has taken minor honours in both the English and Irish Oaks and though she was third again in a Group Three at Cork last time, her trainer Mick Channon is hoping for another big run.
"She is a very good filly - she could travel with anything and has a very high cruising speed," said Channon.
"We were disappointed that she couldn't win at Cork - there is no such thing as an easy Group race but having been placed in both Oaks we were hopeful that she would go there and win.
"She didn't, but she has returned in great shape and is worthy of her place in the line-up. She has proved that already.
"She is versatile regarding ground and the track should suit."
Luca Cumani, who sent out Only Royale to land back-to-back victories in 1993-94, is double-handed with Koora and Loving Things.
He admits his pair face a stiff task and would have preferred a bit of cut in the ground.
"It's a very tough assignment," said the Newmarket trainer.
"They could have both have done with a drop of rain, which we're not likely to get, but both are in good form and we go there hoping for the best."
