Timeforshowcasing wins German Guineas for Charlie Johnston

Charlie Johnston enjoyed the perfect warm up for a big weekend upcoming at Epsom, as Timeforshowcasing stormed to glory in the Horn & Company German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf.

The Middleham handler will saddle both 1000 Guineas third and leading Oaks hope Venetian Lace and Derby contender Ancient Egypt in pursuit of Classic honours on the Surrey Downs and will head south buoyed by big-race success in Germany.

A Listed winner in Newcastle’s Burradon Stakes, the Jaber Abdullah-owned Timeforshowcasing was well-held in search of 1000 Guineas glory at Newmarket.

However, a trip to the continent and slight drop to Group Two company worked the oracle as the mount of Jack Mitchell enjoyed a dream passage before galloping on to a clear-cut success in a race the trainer’s father Mark won back-to-back in 2018 and 2019 with Nyaleti and Main Edition respectively.

Johnston said: “It’s brilliant and after she won at Newcastle I thought this was the perfect race for her really.

“We’ve won it a couple of times with Main Edition and Nyaleti and I thought this was a filly in a similar mould who would come here with a favourite’s chance and I’m delighted she has got the job done.

“In a way she might be difficult to place now as she’ll have a penalty in a lot of places and we might have to roll the dice in a big one again, but today was D-day in her season and she’s gone and won nicely.”

Timeforshowcasing holds an entry for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and while it may be too soon to nail down running plans for the future, a return to Group One company appears likely with options up in distance also on the radar.

“We’ll have to see about Ascot and she’s also won an automatic entry to the Falmouth Stakes today,” continued Johnston.

“I’d also not rule out going up to 10 furlongs if we wanted to. I think she’s probably better with a bit of ease in the ground which she has had here and the ground was probably a bit too quick for her at Newmarket, certainly down the hill.

“Ground therefore might be something we have to consider going forwards, but now she has won a Group Two, I’m sure she will be rolling the dice in a few Group Ones at home during the summer.”