Barnett family mares still have Time on their side

A gradual decline in the type of owner-breeder who keeps the heirloom thoroughbred dynasties in safe custody remains one of the bloodstock world’s persistent worries. So when Robert Barnett announced last year that his Fair Winter Farm in Buckinghamshire was to be sold, the immediate feeling was of another celebrated link with the past being severed.

The family’s association with the historic Belfast-based W&R Barnett trading company stretches back almost as long as its racing interests, from the exceptional staying mare of the 1920s Athasi, through the blue hen Time Charter and fellow Classic winner Pure Grain.

Yet, instead of their cerise Barnett silks becoming another of those confined to the memories of a dog-eared racecard collection, they were displayed more prominently on the track in 2018 than they had for some seasons.

A larger than normal contingent of five juvenile homebreds kept in training was a statement of intent and each one showed promise, headed by a pair of Qipco 1,000 Guineas entries in Roger Varian’s Mot Juste (Distorted Humor-Time On) and the Richard Hannon-trained Star Terms (Sea The Stars-Best Terms), both of whom are perpetuating the Time Charter legacy.

"They turned out to be well above average," says Will Edmeades, Barnett’s long-time adviser.

"Mot Juste ended up winning the Oh So Sharp Stakes and Star Terms could have won the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac, she was beaten two short necks having got into a barging match at the furlong pole and finishing fast.

"I saw Mot Juste work recently, she’s going in the Nell Gwyn because she likes Newmarket and we’d prefer quick ground for her. Star Terms will go for the Fred Darling to start with. They’re both in the Guineas; possibly Star Terms might head back to France for the ground, she likes to get her toe in a little bit and doesn’t want it fast.

"I think Mr Barnett might like to keep them apart but if you’ve got a shot at winning the Guineas, you might as well throw all your darts at the board, mightn’t you? We suspect that Star Terms will need a trip in excess of a mile and we’ll just have to see how they get on."

Mot Juste (centre) signed off for last season in the Oh So Sharp Stakes at NewmarketCredit: Edward Whitaker

The young prospects do not end there, with the remaining three looking more than capable of getting hitting targets too.

"Posted (Kingman-Time Away) ran second at Newbury, then second at Newmarket to Dubai Beauty, and they were well clear of the rest," Edmeades says. "She then went off favourite for the Prestige at Goodwood but she needs faster ground and it was very loose that day, she ended up finishing last.

"She needs to learn to get her brain in order, she tries to do everything too fast and is on a bit of a recovery mission. If we can get her mind right, she’s got ability.

"Chartered (Frankel-Time Saved) was second at Haydock, she was a bit backward and has gone back to Ralph Beckett but isn’t in fast work yet, she needs a bit of sun on her back. We’ve also got a colt called Real Smooth (Teofilo-Amber Silk) who was beaten a nose first-time-out in November.

"Shadwell bought him for 280,000gns at Book 1 but unfortunately he failed a wind test at the sales, and that’s why we have him in training. He had a tie-forward operation in the winter and hopefully he’s going to be okay."

Somewhat surprisingly, this quality has been pressed from a fairly small harvest. Barnett has covered nine broodmares this year, all of which now board at Newsells Park Stud. Although the physical structure of the operation has changed, its principles are anchored in the ways of old.

"Mr Barnett is of an age now and his only child who has an interest in it is living in America, so it was going to be easier for the business to run with just paying one or two bills a month, rather than the gas, the electricity, the wages and all the hundreds of other different things you’ve got to do with having a stud farm," Edmeades explains. "He streamlined the operation, really.

"But it was a big thing to keep four yearling fillies back from going to the sales last year and it’s paying off, touch wood. Then hopefully Mot Juste and Star Terms will one day join the broodmares, too."

Star broodmares

Time On

16yo b m Sadlers Wells-Time Away (Darshaan)

2019 covering sire: Undecided

Trained for the most part by John Dunlop, where her highlight was winning the Group 2 Prix de Malleret, Time On is from the extended family of Time Charter, and her dam was placed in the French Oaks. Mot Juste is her most promising offspring to date.

Edmeades explains: "There’s a two-year-old full-brother to Mot Juste, unfortunately the farrier pricked him a week before the sales, he was lame at the sale and we couldn’t show him until the day before he was due to be sold. Unfortunately he behaved like a lunatic.

"Mot Juste won the Oh So Sharp a few days later, so it was probably a good result in that sense. He’s called Good Humor and is with Roger Varian. He looks more precocious than Mot Juste and Roger’s very pleased with him.

"Time On has a Fastnet Rock yearling colt and is in foal to Nathaniel. She’s due on April 21 but usually goes over her time and there are no plans to cover her again yet."

Best Terms

10yo b m Exceed And Excel-Sharp Terms (Kris)

2019 covering sire: Sea The Stars

The winner of the 2011 Queen Mary and Lowther Stakes has been successful with her first three foals to have raced, also including French Listed scorer Fresh Terms. A yearling colt by Galileo sold for 525,000gns last year to SackvilleDonald at Tattersalls Book 1 and is named Chairman Power.

Edmeades says: "Best Terms has a really nice Dark Angel yearling colt who’ll go into Book 1 and looks the business. She’s not going to foal this year, sadly she lost her Frankel pregnancy early on, but she’s back in foal to Sea The Stars. Her two-year-old colt by Galileo is with Sir Michael Stoute."

The rest

"We retired All Out, who was Group-placed last year, and she’s in foal to Kingman," reports Edmeades. "There’s also the dam of Real Smooth, Amber Silk, who is a full-sister to Just The Judge.

"I bought her at the December sales a few years ago and she’s been a bit of a disaster really. Sadly she lost two foals to Dark Angel, but Real Smooth looks promising and there’s a yearling colt by Frankel.

"We’ve only got two left from the Pure Grain line but one of her daughters, Pure Line, is getting good foals along with Pure Song.

"There are two two-year-old fillies in training with Ralph Beckett. There is a backward Zoffany out of Time Honoured, who was Time Charter’s last foal by Sadler’s Wells. She’s called Zouave.

"Then there is a nice Fastnet Rock filly out of Pure Song called New Tune, who is a half-sister to the twice Classic-placed Romsdal."

More mating plans:

Galileo and Justify on the dance card of Blue Diamond Stud's broodmare band

Hope springs eternal as Newsells Park Stud breeds the best to the best

Strong home support the backbone of Cheveley Park Stud mating plans