Charlton admits frustrating campaign with Time Test
Time Test will not run in either the Irish Champion or Champion Stakes at Ascot and whether or not he races again here or in America is yet to be decided
ROGER CHARLTON has revealed Time Test is set to miss the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot with his future up in the air.
The Khalid Abdullah-owned four-year-old was expected to make his mark at the highest level this season, but missed both the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh and the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot on account of unsuitable ground.
He made his return to Group One company in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in July and ran well to finish third considering conditions were again far from ideal.
He bounced back to winning ways in the Group Two York Stakes, but has since missed the Juddmonte International and Charlton suggested it is not impossible he may have run his last race in Europe.
"He lost a bit of condition and I wasn't entirely happy with his work leading up to the Juddmonte International, so he's having a holiday at Juddmonte Farms at the moment. We'll see how he does, but he needed a break," the trainer said.
"I think it depends how he does there as to what his plans are. Plans for the future have not been made yet.
"I think it's very unlikely that he'll run in the Champion Stakes or the Irish Champion Stakes.
"I think his future is in the melting pot as to whether he goes to America to race or continues here, it's undecided."
Charlton admitted it has been a frustrating campaign.
He told Racing UK: "We took him to Ireland for the Tattersalls Gold Cup. I think he would have a pretty good chance of winning that.
"We wanted to run in the Prince of Wales and, on reflection, I think he probably would have won.
"We went to the Eclipse, which looked a race that would suit him really well, and it rained again.
"I was pleased we ran at York, he won there well, and he beat the horse that won the Arlington Million (Mondialiste).
"He's got very solid form, I just feel frustrated that we didn't really have the opportunity to win a Group One race, which I think he deserved to win.
"He'll have a short break, we'll see how he does and then his future will be decided as to whether he continues racing, or where he continues racing."
Charlton also confirmed his Lonsdale Cup winner Quest For More will likely contest next week's Doncaster Cup, but a second bid for the Melbourne Cup in November is not on the agenda, while the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket (September 23) is the most likely target for his exciting juvenile filly Fair Eva.
