Time Lock bids to give Charlton final Group 1 in Fillies and Mares

Roger Charlton will have what is likely to be his last chance to add another Group 1 to a glittering CV when impressive recent Princess Royal Stakes winner Time Lock steps up in class here, for at the end of the year he will be handing over to his son Harry, with whom he has shared the licence for the last two years. 

Aidan O’Brien, who has previously won this race with Hydrangea and Magical, has plenty to choose from here. He confirmed at Newmarket that he plans to run Jackie Oh, who ran a career best when running the outstanding French filly Blue Rose Cen to a neck in the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp on Arc weekend, but he has also confirmed Boogie Woogie, Red Riding Hood and Unless.

The confirmations also include the Princess Royal second and third, Sweet Memories and Running Lion, as well as their much shorter-priced stable-mate Free Wind, who was second in the Yorkshire Oaks and is the intended mount of Frankie Dettori. John Gosden has suggested that all three could run.

Ralph Beckett’s Irish Oaks second Bluestocking is among the other leading possibles, but plans for George Boughey’s classy come-from-behind filly Via Sistina remain fluid as she was also confirmed for the QIPCO Champion Stakes. 

Henry De Bromhead’s Term Of Endearment has been supplemented, making 19 possibles in all. However, the race has a maximum field of 14.