English Champion Time Charter Dead

Time Charter, a three-time English champion, died July 7 at Fair Winter Farm in England. The 26-year-old daughter of Saritamer had been pensioned since 2001.

Time Charter, who was bred in Ireland by W. and R. Barnett Ltd., owners of Fair Winter, possesses North American ties close up in her pedigree. Her grandsire, Dancer's Image (by Native Dancer), won the 1968 Kentucky Derby, but was disqualified soon after.

Time Charter raced for Robert Barnett, winning nine of 20 starts and earning $918,320. She was an English champion from ages three to five and won important stakes over males in each of those years. She beat them in winning the 1982 Dubai Champion Stakes (Eng-I), the 1983 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (Eng-I), and the 1984 Coronation Cup (Eng-I). Her wins against fellow distaffers came in the 1982 Epsom Oaks (Eng-I) and Sun Chariot Stakes (Eng-II). Her Timeform rating of 131 was bettered by only Petite Etoile, Noblesse, and Dunfermline among post World War II Oaks winners.

In what was Time Charter's final start, she ran second to Sadler's Wells in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes (Eng-I).

As a broodmare, Time Charter produced her best offspring from a mating to Sadler's Wells. The offspring, the filly Time Allowed, was an English champion.

Time Charter produced a total of 10 named foals, seven of which were winners, including additional stakes winner Zinaad (by Shirley Heights) as well as three stakes-placed runners. Time Charter's four stakes winners as a granddam include European group winners First Charter, Time Away, and Plea Bargain.