Sport

Timepiece clicks in to gear for Cecil

RACING: HENRY CECIL’S Timepiece finally confirmed herself a top-class filly with an excellent performance in the Etihad Airways…

Sat Jul 09 2011 - 01:00

RACING:HENRY CECIL'S Timepiece finally confirmed herself a top-class filly with an excellent performance in the Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket yesterday.

Cecil has always waxed lyrical about the four-year-old and she was a leading fancy for last year’s Oaks at Epsom, only to disappoint.

The daughter of Zamindar struck in a Warwick Listed event on her latest appearance but, stepping up to Group One level, was sent off a 16 to 1 chance in the mile showpiece on the July course.

Racing up with the pace, Tom Queally exuded confidence throughout and his mount had all those around her beaten heading into the final furlong.

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French raider Sahpresa was played late by Christophe Lemaire but was unable to get to Timepiece, who galloped on to record a one-and-a-quarter-length triumph.

Queally said: “We’ve never made any secret of how we feel about her. She hacked along as though it was a bit of work and she’s taken care of them, so I’m pleased for her and for everyone at the yard. It’s brilliant. It was a slow gallop and Neil (Callan on Masaya) got his own way of things and I just followed along.

“The beauty of it was I was able to keep her on the bridle for so long. She was going so easily and she skipped along that hill and did it very well.

“She stays the mile really well and gets a mile and a furlong on her head. The slow pace might have caught us out but it didn’t.

“She is pretty versatile and won over three furlongs further at Warwick, but it was a Listed race. She stepped up in class and she has coped with it. She’s always had the ability.”

Cecil said: “She’s got a lot of ability and I’m pleased everything went right today, she didn’t stay in the Oaks last year. I told Tom not to disappoint her as she likes to use her stride, but she doesn’t want to be in front too soon. He gave a lovely ride and she did it well. I don’t really know where she’ll go now.”

Godolphin’s Gamilati became the first maiden since Sayyedati in 1992 to lift the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cherry Hinton Stakes. Frankie Dettori, back after suspension, was far less reserved in applying his flying dismount than he was in the saddle, putting Gamilati (14 to 1) to sleep for much of the race before rousing her in the final furlong to brush aside Russelliana and Shumoos.