TDN RISING STARS

October 9, 2009 - LINGFIELD, Race , Mdn, GBP £6,000, 1m, 14.2000

Timepiece (GB), F, 2009, by Zamindar

1st Dam: Clepsydra (GB), by Sadler's Wells
2nd Dam: Quandary, by Blushing Groom (Fr)
3rd Dam: Lost Virtue, by Cloudy Dawn

Owner: Khalid Abdullah
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Ltd
Trainer: Henry Cecil

Those who study Henry Cecil's habits closely took note that he introduced Timepiece in the one-mile Newmarket maiden Sept. 18 won in the past by his subsequent G1 Epsom Oaks winner Light Shift (Kingmambo) and runner-up Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Beaten a half-length when second to the experienced Golden Aria (Ire) (Rakti {GB}) on that occasion, the homebred half to Passage of Time (GB) (Dansili {GB}), G1SW-Fr, GSW & G1SP-Eng, GISP-US, $651,312; and Father Time (GB) (Dansili {GB}), GSW-Eng, $260,281, was allowed to drift to 5-2 second favoritism here in the face of strong support for Gertrude Bell (GB) (Sinndar {Ire}), who had caught the eye when a short-head back in third in that Newmarket contest. Soon in control of the pace, Timepiece raced professionally on the front end and was asked to lengthen when pressed on the turn by Shimmering Surf (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Quickly asserting in early stretch, she had the race in safe keeping inside the final furlong and only needed to be pushed out to best that rival by a cozy 1 3/4-length margin, with Gertrude Bell again in third spot. "She has improved a lot from her run at Newmarket, and the difference in the surface today told when it mattered," jockey Tom Queally commented. "She got beaten last time because of the [fast] ground and I wanted a good mile pace today, so took the bull by the horns. The clues are in her pedigree, and so far in her work and at the racecourse, she certainly appears to be going the right way. She is more masculine in her shape than Father Time, and I like her." Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, £5,428.