Quirky mare shows her class

While About Time’s barrier manners remain a concern, there’s no doubting her staying talent.

Our homebred and raced daughter of American Pharoah was again fractious in the gates at Ellerslie before she got into her work and put paid to her Rating 75 rivals over 2100 metres.

“She doesn’t help herself and the starting gate guys have done a great job with her again,” trainer Lance Noble said. “She’s not easy, but she’s got a lot of ability.”

She was successful in the G2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes last season and there was a sense of timing about the mare with a rise in distance at Ellerslie.

“She’s had a couple of runs over 1600 metres and in her last one at Pukekohe was a bit dour so stepping up in trip suited her,” Noble said.

“She’s nominated for the Dunstan Stayers’ Final, so that’s looking likely now.”

About Time settled back of midfield on the rail before rider Warren Kennedy angled her away from the fence 500 metres from home and the four-year-old rounded off powerfully for the third win of her career.

“She’s done a great job and the 2100 metres was what she was looking for,” said Kennedy, who was fired out the back of the stalls before the race.

“Well done to the barrier boys, they handle her really well. She is getting better, believe it or not.”

About Time is a daughter of the Fastnet Rock mare Romantic Time who is a half-sister to the ill-fated G2 Silver Slipper Stakes winner Amelia’s Dream.

She has been an excellent producer with her son and multiple winner Young Werther a multiple Group 1 placegetter while daughter Romantic Lady was a stakes performer and Villaden has also won eight races.

Romantic Time has an unraced juvenile son of Savabeel Adoration and had an Almanzor colt last season before returning to our son of Wootton Bassett.

‍