Time To Take Off

The record since then reads 2-2-1 in the three races that followed, meaning Time To Take Off has finished second twice and then won again most recently, just one day ago. That is a remarkable level of consistency for such a young horse. From just three races, it has won one and placed in the other two — that is a podium finish every single time it has competed, with a win rate of 1 in 3, or roughly 33%. Very few horses manage that kind of clean sheet early in their careers.

James Tate's yard is clearly in good form, having sent out 50 winners already this season, which puts it among the more productive operations in British racing. A trainer running at that volume tends to know which horses are ready to run and when — so the fact that Time To Take Off has been kept busy and keeps delivering suggests the team believe in what they have on their hands.

With just three races to its name, there is plenty still to learn about where this horse sits in the bigger picture. But the early signs — a debut win, two runner-up spots, and another win to follow — paint the picture of a horse that competes hard every time it steps out. For a 3-year-old still finding its feet in the sport, that is a very promising foundation.