Trainer Gerald Ryan has revealed that talented colt Time For War will wear blinkers when he takes on a strong field in the 2014 BRC Sires Produce Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
Time For War is expected to be sent to the spelling paddock after running in the 2014 BRC Sires Produce Stakes at Doomben this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Time For War started his autumn preparation with a win in the Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 29 and was far from disgraced in the Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on April 12 before finishing a disappointing tenth in the Group 2 Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben on May 10.
Ryan told Racing Ahead that Time For War did not have his mind on the job in the Champagne Classic and will wear blinkers in the BRC Sires Produce Stakes this weekend; with the veteran trainer hopeful that the Snitzel colt can return to the form that he showed in both the Pago Pago Stakes and Sires Produce Stakes.
“He was a little bit disappointing first-up, up there,” Ryan said.
“He was coming off a freshen-up and young Damien (Thornton) thought that he didn’t put in and he didn’t want to chase them after the gates opened.
“He reared the gates and missed the start by probably three quarters of a length and he didn’t want to chase after.
“I wacked a pair of blinkers on him and we will see if that can switch him on a little bit.
“He has done very well and his work has been good and you would just like to see him run up to his Pago Pago and Sires form and that would be good.
“If he runs up to his last start up there that would be no good, but you have to forgive them one bad run.”
Time For War has been included in the nominations for the Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) that will be held at Eagle Farm on June 7, but Ryan admits that the two-year-old will likely head to the spelling paddock no matter how he performs in the BRC Sires Produce Stakes this weekend.
“That will be the end and I don’t think we would try him at the mile,” Ryan said.
“I would push hard to have him become a gelding.
“When he won his first start back in October he was only 23 months old, so he is a late foal and he has done very well spelling and very well body wise.
“He just might need a horse that needs a bit more time and will come back better as a three-year-old.”
Time For War will need to return to his best form to be any chance in the BRC Sires Produce Stakes after Brazen Beau, Pressing, Looks Like The Cat and Aimee were all included in the acceptances for the Group 2 event.
