Tag Archive for: Andrew Balding

Jonny Bairstow bowled over by Jungle Drums bravery

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Jungle Drums held his nerve and dug deep to make all and land the Coral Rockingham Stakes at York for Karl Burke.

The Bungle Inthejungle colt had never raced on softer than good in his four starts before arriving at the Knavesmire for the opening Listed contest.

Sam James looked comfortable at the halfway mark, as Jungle Drums nudged ahead of Hugo Palmer’s It Ain’t Two.

The 20-1 shot battled gamely to keep his nose in front before ultimately stretching his lead, as he secured the third and biggest victory of his career by one and three-quarter lengths.

England cricketer Jonny Bairstow is a part of the juvenile’s owning syndicate Bronte Collection and was in attendance for the triumph.

He said: “What a load of heart, you could see the ground and everything like that. To do it like that, from that far out and to hold everything else off, is a great effort.

“It’s a good sport, I’ve grown up in York. I’m just on a day out with the family and some really close friends and it is even better that we have a couple of runners.

“I’ve been coming here since I was 16, maybe even younger, to be quite honest with you. It is always a great day out, come rain or shine people have a good time.”

It was a quick double for Burke as Bolster produced a gutsy performance to win the Coral “Daily Rewards Shaker” Handicap.

Despite carrying top weight under Pierre-Louis Jamin, the 7-1 shot hit the front with two furlongs remaining before crossing the line three-quarters of a length clear of Stressfree.

“It’s just the ground, that’s what is key for him,” assistant trainer James Cowley said. “He’s pounds ahead of himself on soft ground, even heavy ground, it makes a massive difference for him.”

Almeric held off Ride The Thunder in the Coral Racing Club EBF Maiden Stakes to ensure Andrew Balding clinched the Charles Clinkard Top Trainer Trophy at the Knavesmire.

The two-year-old had a great battle with Roger Varian’s 11-8 favourite, but a quick turn of foot in the closing stages under the hands of PJ McDonald sealed a one-length victory at a price of 2-1.

That result moved Balding to 10 winners on the Knavesmire over the 2024 campaign, finishing clear of Ralph Beckett, David O’Meara and Kevin Ryan.

McDonald said: “He’s a horse going the right way. He handled that ground well, but I do think he will be better on better ground.

“He’s a lovely moving horse, so I’d be excited by him. With his pedigree, he should be a smart three-year-old.”

Fearless Freddy, who went off at 4-1, left it late to power home to victory in the Play Coral “Racing-Super-Series” For Free Nursery Stakes by one and a half lengths.

“The horse has got me out of a big hole there,” jockey Lewis Edmunds admitted. “I couldn’t get out and I thought I was going to be a very unlucky loser.”

Gibside came to the fore in the driving rain during the Coral “We’re Here For It” Stayers Handicap to win by five lengths for Tim Easterby at a price of 11-1.

Two Brothers, a 25-1 shot, led a one-two for Michael and David Easterby in the Coral “Committed To Safer Gambling” Finale Handicap, beating 7-1 stablemate Yorkshire Lady by half a length.



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Subsequent events delight Balding at Ascot

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Subsequent notched his fourth victory of the season when striking with ease in the BetMGM Noel Murless Stakes at Ascot.

It may have taken Andrew Balding’s progressive three-year-old three starts to get off the mark, but since breaking his duck he has not looked back.

Having scaled the handicap ratings and gone so close in the Mallard at Doncaster last month, he stepped into Listed company and took the rise in class in his stride in the hands of Oisin Murphy.

Sent off the 13-8 favourite, he was always in touch with those at the head of proceedings and having travelled into the home straight full of running, sauntered his way to the front before being pushed out for a two-and-a-half-length success.

Balding said: “I was very happy with that and he has done nothing but improve all year. He is going to be a very fun horse next year, I’m looking forward to him and I think he will make into a nice stayer.

“Obviously the next step will be a Group Three which will probably be next year, but we will see how he winters and handicaps I guess are still a possibility as well. We will see what next season brings.

“Today is a nice way to finish for the season.”

Russian Crescendo and Fire Blade fought out an excellent finish
Russian Crescendo and Fireblade fought out an excellent finish (Adam Davy/PA)

Murphy made it a double when William Knight’s Holkham Bay (4-1) edged out Garfield Shadow to shade the BetMGM Handicap, while Rossa Ryan warmed up for his ParisLongchamp rides on Bluestocking and Kinross by steering Hutchence (5-2 joint favourite) to a commanding victory in the Colliers Handicap.

Also on the card there was an exciting finish to the BetmMGM Novice Stakes as William Haggas’ Cracksman filly Russian Crescendo (3-1) outbattled John and Thady Gosden’s Fireblade – a sibling to the dual Champion Stakes scorer – with just a neck separating the duo.



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Eydon camp trying not to get carried away following positive comeback

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Connections of Eydon are keeping an open mind as to whether they take up their BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes entry on Saturday, with Newbury’s St Simon Stakes later this month another possible option.

Fourth in the 2000 Guineas in 2022, he has suffered his fair share of setbacks during his career and having been nursed back to full fitness by trainer Andrew Balding, showed his engine firmly remained intact when second in Ayr’s Doonside Cup recently.

Eydon has encouragingly returned from his trip to Scotland – and that first run in 210 days – in good order and if not making an immediate return to Group company at Ascot this weekend, he is likely to do so at Newbury on October 26.

“Andrew is happy and has said let’s look at the race at Ascot. He also nominated the St Simon Stakes straight after Ayr, so I would say it would be one or the other he will run in,” said Ted Voute, racing adviser for owner Prince Faisal.

“The good news is he is sound, which has been the intermittent problem for us since he has been a three-year-old.

“The opposition looks quite strong. If he doesn’t appear on Saturday we will hopefully see him in the St Simon.”

Given his injury history, the team behind the five-year-old are never keen to look too far into the future.

However, a positive showing in his next assignment could trigger some exciting international raids, with first Europe and ultimately valuable prizes in the Middle East tentatively on the radar.

Eydon in action on the gallops
Eydon in action on the gallops (John Walton/PA)

“There are a few options abroad,” continued Voute.

“There’s a race in France he’s in and we’re looking at a race in Milan and, if we got the ultimate result in our next race and he performed really creditably or even won, then there is a Group One in Germany we might look at later on.

“Although I don’t want to tempt fate, which I seem to have done so many times with this horse, and we’d rather take baby steps first.

“No one has committed to the Middle East yet and the closest we’ve got (to contemplating it) is acknowledging there is a lot of prize-money on offer for him during the winter if we can keep him right and he is showing he’s of that class.

“A lot will depend on his next run, if that is positive we can then start looking further afield.”



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Del Mar mission calling for New Century

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Connections of New Century hope the smart two-year-old is the “one they’ll have to beat” in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf following his top-level success in Canada at the weekend.

Having seen off subsequent Champagne Stakes hero Luther on his penultimate start at Salisbury, Andrew Balding’s youngster journeyed to Woodbine to contest the Grade One Summer Stakes and got the better of a familiar rival in Charlie Appleby’s Al Qudra in the hands of Oisin Murphy.

New Century has not yet made it back to Britain after enduring travel problems, but having seen him provide his 2000 Guineas-winning sire Kameko with a first top-level success, owners Qatar Racing are already looking forward to another trans-Atlantic trip, this time to Del Mar in early November.

“It was an extraordinarily well thought out and executed plan by Andrew Balding’s team to go to Woodbine and a superb ride from Oisin, making him the only Group One-winning two-year-old by a first-season sire in Europe,” said Qatar Racing’s David Redvers.

“The exciting thing is it (Summer Stakes) was a win-and-you’re-in for Del Mar and the only slight issue is it’s been quite tricky getting him home. It wasn’t just a case of getting on a plane and coming back and he’s currently in Churchill Downs awaiting a flight back.

“He had to travel from Woodbine down to Kentucky, but he’s such a professional horse with such an outstanding temperament that he seems to be taking it in his stride.”

David Redvers has high hopes for New Century
David Redvers has high hopes for New Century (Mike Egerton/PA)

While an appearance in the Californian sunshine is very much the focus, Redvers also has his sights on a potential tilt at Classic honours next spring.

He added: “All of his form has looked absolutely rock-solid throughout the season. It’s always lovely when you see those that have finished behind him coming out and franking his form almost every step of the way.

“He’s been rated accordingly – I think he’s the highest-rated turf two-year-old in North America currently and he’s right at the top of the list here as well.

“He is a toughie and Andrew is very much talking about him being a very genuine Guineas prospect for next year, so he seems to be following in his father’s footsteps nicely.

“Del Mar is a different track to Woodbine obviously, but he’ll have had plenty of experience by the time he’s got there and as long as this travelling doesn’t knock him too much, we’d all have to be very hopeful that he’ll be the one they’ll have to beat.”



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Ghost Run knuckles down for Doncaster triumph

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Ghost Run got Oisin Murphy off to a flying start at this year’s St Leger Festival at Doncaster with a determined victory in the British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Nursery.

The three-time champion jockey is out on his own in this year’s title race with a lead of more than 40 winners over Tom Marquand, and has a strong book of rides for the first two days of action on Town Moor before he jets out to Canada to ride at Woodbine on Saturday.

Ghost Run was a 5-1 shot for Doncaster’s curtain-raiser, dropping back into a handicap after finishing eighth in a valuable sales race at York three weeks ago.

A daughter of trainer Andrew Balding’s 2000 Guineas hero Kameko, Murphy’s mount battled her way to the front before knuckling down to see off Oolong Poobong and Griselda by a neck and a head respectively.

“She’s very tough and a great example of her sire Kameko with her attitude to life,” said Murphy.

The winning trainer’s wife Anna-Lisa Balding added: “Andrew was quite confident this morning and she’s a lovely filly. Andrew had a lot of luck with her half-sister Nymphadora as well and being by Kameko, it’s great for us – it’s a real Kingsclere story.

“She’s not very big, but she’s got a huge heart and really wanted it.”

Grey Cuban (10-1) continued his profitable campaign by landing the Pertemps Network Handicap in the hands of Jamie Spencer.

Hugo Palmer’s charge won twice on his local track of Chester in July and was not beaten far when sixth in a valuable sprint handicap at York on his most recent outing.

Grey Cuban struck gold under Jamie Spencer
Grey Cuban struck gold under Jamie Spencer (Mike Egerton/PA)

Always up with the pace, Grey Cuban answered his rider’s every call to reel in T’Challa before kicking a length and a quarter clear.

Mike Edwards, racing manager for owners Roudee Racing, said: “We were hopeful of a really good run. He’s just an honest, straightforward horse really that needs to be ridden up with the pace.

“For a syndicate horse, he’s just amazing. We’re local to Chester, we’ve got six horses with Hugo at the moment and we’ll probably look to get four or five more next year.

“It will be down to Hugo where he goes, but he continues to improve and he loves soft ground.”

William Haggas and Tom Marquand combined to claim top honours in the Hilton Garden Inn Doncaster Racecourse Nursery with 13-2 chance Yaroogh.

The Dubawi colt came up short when bidding to complete a hat-trick in what looked a red-hot renewal of the Acomb Stakes at York, but proved up to the task back in handicap company as he dug deep to see off the challenge of Spell Master by a neck.

“He went to the Acomb but that was a tough race. Obviously he was beaten a long way but things didn’t go to plan and didn’t really suit him and I was quite keen today to be forward on him to give him some space,” said Marquand.

“I was fortunate I was left alone in front to be able to get him to relax and he did really well to battle them off.”

Harmonia and Richard Kingscote pass the post in front at Doncaster
Harmonia and Richard Kingscote pass the post in front at Doncaster (Mike Egerton/PA)

The David Evans-trained Harmonia (10-1) notched her third win of the season in the Christmas Live @themovies At Doncaster Racecourse Nursery.

Winning jockey Richard Kingscote said: “She was tough and she had to be. She pricked her ears in front, got in a nice rhythm and toughed it out well.

“She’s been doing well to be fair to her. She moved well on the way down. I was a bit unsure whether the ground might be a bit slow for her, but she’s very straightforward.”

The Winners Wear Skopes Menswear Handicap brought the eight-race card to a close and victory went to 10-3 favourite Kildare Legend for James Ferguson and Daniel Muscutt.



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Kalpana can set up Champions Day outing with Kempton victory

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Kalpana will put her Qipco British Champions Day credentials to the test at Kempton when contests the Unibet September Stakes on Saturday.

Andrew Balding’s three-year-old filly has put together a smart CV since a debut victory at Wolverhampton in January, with impressive victories at Newmarket and in Listed company at Hamilton last time out featuring on her CV.

Holding an entry for the Qipco British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot on October 19, this is seen as the perfect place to prepare for a first taste of Group One action, taking on some experienced hands in this Group Three event.

“She’s in good shape and we just thought with half an eye on the fillies’ and mares’ race in Ascot on Champions Day, this might be a good prep run for that,” said Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte.

“She obviously looked good in Hamilton the last day and this is a stepping-stone. If we get on well, we’ll look towards Ascot.”

One popular runner standing in Kalpana’s way is William Haggas’ eight-year-old Hamish, who despite his advancing years has won five times in the last two years and also finished a narrow second in Epsom’s Coronation Cup.

Owned by Haggas’ father, Brian, he has won 11 of his 21 career starts including this very contest in 2021, and the Somerville Lodge handler sees this as a nice opportunity to bounce back from an underwhelming showing at Newmarket in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes.

Hamish has been a popular performer over the years
Hamish has been a popular performer over the years (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Haggas said: “I would prefer to be running him on the soft turf at Ascot, Salisbury or Newbury, but there wasn’t a race for him so we plumped for the all-weather with him and hopefully he will be all right on it. He could do with softer ground really, but hopefully he will be OK.

“It was a bit messy at Newmarket last time and they split into two groups and the two outsiders led him and then Tom (Marquand) realised about two furlongs up the straight he was in the wrong place. It just didn’t happen, it was a mistake.

“This is a good opportunity if he is at his best.”

However, it is the Gosden operation that has dominated this contest in recent years, with star performers Jack Hobbs (2015), Enable (2018 and 2020) and Mostahdaf (2022) all winning this prize for Clarehaven in the last 10 years.

John Gosden and his son Thady will saddle two runners in the race
John Gosden and his son Thady will saddle two runners in the race (David Davies/PA)

It is Lion’s Pride and God’s Window representing the John and Thady Gosden training combination this time, with the former possessing some smart track form.

Another Kempton specialist is George Baker’s Cemhaan who carried top-weight to victory in the Rosebery Handicap in the spring and has won three times at the Sunbury venue.

Third in the Aston Park Stakes on turf this summer, he now returns to his beloved all-weather surface where he will reunite with jockey Neil Callan.

Cemhaan (left) winning at Kempton in April
Cemhaan (left) winning at Kempton in April (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s heading back to the scene of his brilliant Rosebery win in the spring and we go there in good order,” said Baker.

“Neil Callan is back on board and he gave him a peach that day. He is taking on the likes of Hamish and some other good horses and it is obviously very, very competitive. But we know the horse thrives at Kempton and he worked there nicely last week.

“We head there full of hope and hopefully he can shake up one or two of the big guns.”

Brian Ellison’s Northumberland Plate winner Onesmoothoperator and Hugo Palmer’s Under The Sun complete the line-up.



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Bellum Justum to continue his international exploits

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Further international options will be explored with Bellum Justum following his lucrative success in America last weekend under Frankie Dettori.

Winner of the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom on his three-year-old debut, Andrew Balding’s colt went on to finish seventh in the Derby before being placed in the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot and the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.

On the strength of those efforts, the Sea The Stars colt headed across the Atlantic as a major contender for the Nashville Derby and duly delivered, claiming over £800,000 in prize-money for owners King Power Racing with a comprehensive victory at Kentucky Downs.

“We felt we were probably better than the American horses, but without an actual line through the form, you never quite know and things often go wrong when you travel,” said King Power’s racing manager Alastair Donald.

“Thankfully, all went smoothly, apart from being a bit slowly away, and Frankie is pretty reliable in those big races. He got a good position and we knew there was a good chance that we’d be able to outstay the others.

“It was nice that a good plan paid off for massive money. I think there are only two races in Europe that he could have won that are worth more and they’re the Arc and the Derby! I’m sure there’ll be a lot more horses travelling next year, put it that way.”

Considering future plans, Donald added: “He’s had a busy season, as he obviously had a Derby campaign, so he’s been on the go quite a long time.

“He likes quick ground, so we’ll probably give him a bit of a break and we might consider some Middle Eastern options in January/February.

“It was just a shame he wasn’t quite right in the Derby, he definitely ran below-par there, but he’s a tough, admirable horse who we think will be even better at four.

“I think there’ll be more fun and big prizes in him, but he’s probably a horse who is going to thrive with travelling – given he likes fast ground and running over a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half gives him lots of options.”



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See The Fire too hot for Strensall rivals

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Oisin Murphy delivered See The Fire with a swooping late challenge to secure a deserved big-race victory in the Sky Bet Strensall Stakes at York.

Although winless since making a successful debut on Newmarket’s July Course last summer, Andrew Balding’s filly has run several fine races in defeat in good company since.

The daughter of Sea The Stars rounded off her juvenile campaign with placed efforts in the May Hill and the Fillies’ Mile – and while she was well beaten on her return in the 1000 Guineas, she performed creditably in the Coronation Stakes, the Eclipse and when runner-up to Opera Singer in the Nassau.

Stepping down in trip and class for this nine-furlong Group Three, See The Fire had only Alyanaabi behind her at the top of the home straight, but soon began to weave her way through the field.

Murphy spotted a gap on the far rail inside the final furlong and his mount had more than enough in the tank to take it, quickening up smartly to grab the lead before pulling a length and three-quarters clear at the line.

Phantom Flight filled the runner-up spot, just ahead of Checkandchallenge in third.

“She was brilliant in the Nassau the last day and her work since has been great. She’s been working with older horses that are in good form and she’s been finding it very easy,” said Murphy of the 3-1 favourite.

“I wasn’t going to sit three wide on her, I wanted to get cover and maybe have horses to fill up on the back of before finding space. Arguably I was fortunate enough that it opened up on the inside, but she was very good at the line with her ears pricked.

“It’s so important, she’s out of Arabian Queen who won a Juddmonte International, she’s a homebred for Littleton Stud and I’m delighted.”

Trainer Andrew Balding
Trainer Andrew Balding (John Walton/PA)

Balding added: “We’ve always thought the world of this filly. She’s beautiful to look at, she’s always worked well and I’ve just got to thank David Elsworth for retiring when he did because I’ve reaped the rewards of having the mare’s progeny!

“David did fabulously well with the family and she (Arabian Queen) is an amazing broodmare.

“I’m delighted for Jeff (Smith) and David (Bowe) and everyone at Littleton because these owner-breeders are so important and to get this calibre of horse is special.”



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Cool Hoof Luke darts to Gimcrack victory at York

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Cool Hoof Luke advertised his star quality when hitting the bullseye in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes at York.

Named after World Darts champion ‘Cool Hand’ Luke Humphries, Andrew Balding’s son of Advertise has performed admirably in defeat since making his winning debut at Chelmsford, finishing fourth in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot before going a place better in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood.

With experience under his belt, Oisin Murphy’s mount was sent off at 8-1 and breezed smartly into contention approaching the business end of the Group Two event.

Once hitting the front, he put his racecourse knowledge to good use inside the final furlong to hold off the challenge of Charlie Appleby’s previously unbeaten Shadow Of Light, with Adrian Keatley’s Symbol Of Strength outrunning odds of 80-1 for third.

Balding was represented by his wife, Anna Lisa, who said: “He’s a big horse, a big two-year-old. It doesn’t always happen, but it happened and it’s just fantastic.

“You look at him and you think he’s going to be a better three-year-old, we weren’t sure about the trip, it was going to be a question mark today – he’s bred to be a sprinter, looks like a seven-furlong horse – and again, the trainer got it right.

“I think we were a bit disappointed at Goodwood, but he came back and won the right one today.

“Andrew will be making the decisions, but it is exciting.”

Of the runner-up, Appleby’s assistant Alex Merriam said: “We’re happy. That was his first step up into Group company and it is a big step up. I think he’s probably learned a lot, he’s run his race, but he just got beaten by one better on the day.

“I think the trip is fine for him, he’ll stick at six for now, but he just got beat by one on the day.

“I did just say to Charlie, though, that it looks good for Aomori City as he beat the winner at Goodwood, so we’ll take that.

“We can’t complain, it’s only his third run and first in Group company.”

Keatley had been keen on the chance of Symbol Of Strength and felt he was vindicated.

He said: “I’d like to think I’ve been looking at them long enough now to know when we’ve got a good one, but I was starting to doubt myself when I saw he was the outsider of the field yesterday. I thought that was ridiculous.

“He’s a good horse, he’ll have no problems getting seven furlongs and next year maybe even a mile, he’s got scope and will grow a bit, we think a lot of him and the sky is the limit.

“He’s in the Mill Reef and that will probably be the target, he’s also in the Middle Park, but we’ll go to the Mill Reef as long as the ground is not too soft.”



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Jouncy facing step up in class at York in Gimcrack

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The future looks bright for Goodwood scorer Jouncy, with a step up in class at York next on the agenda for Andrew Balding’s promising youngster.

Having banked some experience earlier in the summer, the son of Wootton Bassett was building on his narrow Kempton reversal when opening his account at the third attempt on the Sussex Downs.

Sent off the 7-4 favourite, the Juddmonte-owned two-year-old, who is a half-brother to last year’s Mill Reef winner Array, was ridden prominently by Oisin Murphy and knuckled down well in the closing stages to see off a useful cast of rivals.

It was an encouraging performance and one that not only hinted bigger things lie in store, but one that secured his ticket to the Knavesmire later this month where he will – for now – remain at six furlongs to contest the Group Two Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes.

“He’s a horse that has always shown promise and Andrew has always held him in high regard,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.

“He’s a little bit like his brother last year and a slow learner. Array was a slow learner last year and it took him three runs to break his maiden – and this guy is very much the same.

Jouncy winning at Goodwood
Jouncy winning at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“The penny didn’t drop in his first two starts, but Oisin was good and positive on him at Goodwood and the penny dropped and he went and won well.

“We think he wants seven in time, but we’re looking at the Gimcrack next for him and then stepping up in trip after that.”



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Hott Shott and Spell Master cannot be split at Goodwood

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Hott Shott and Spell Master shared the honours after the judge was unable to split the pair in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes on the final day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

A field of 11 runners went to post for the seven-furlong contest and entering the final furlong it looked like the two horses at the top of the market, Ralph Beckett’s 2-1 favourite Consolidation and Andrew Balding’s 4-1 chance Spell Master, would fight out the finish.

However, Rossa Ryan was not far behind the pair in third aboard the Richard Hughes-trained Hott Shott (5-1), who had finished third at Kempton on his only previous start, and he was the one that was finishing best of the trio as the post loomed.

Spell Master got the better of his protracted duel with Consolidation under Oisin Murphy, but was joined on the line by Hott Shott and after checking the photograph, a dead-heat was confirmed.

“It wasn’t easy to watch. I thought he was beat,” said Hughes.

“He stuck his head out and a stride after the line he was a neck in front.

“I was trying to make him into a Chesham horse, but when he walked into the paddock at Kempton, I truly believed that I had gone a month too soon.

“He looked a bit tall and there was a lot of daylight under him, so we’ve given him loads of time since and this has been his target for a long time.

“He’s one of my best (two-year-olds) but that doesn’t mean much. We don’t have that many.

“He’s been a very nice horse from the start, he’s got a great attitude and loves fast ground.”

Trainer Andrew Balding at Goodwood
Trainer Andrew Balding at Goodwood (Zac Goodwin/PA)

Balding, who had saddled three horses to pick up silver medals earlier in the day, added of Spell Master: “I’m relieved he didn’t come second like the others!

“He’s a grand horse who’s improving with every run and should keep progressing. Kamekos are very similar and seem to thrive on their racing and try very hard.”

Witness Stand was a 40-1 winner of the Whispering Angel Handicap for Tom Clover and Kieran Shoemark.

Successful on his racecourse debut at Chester last summer, the Expert Eye gelding had failed to add to his tally since, but had run some sound races in defeat – notably filling the runner-up spot in the Group Three Horris Hill Stakes at Newmarket in November.

Witness Stand was an impressive winner at Goodwood
Witness Stand was an impressive winner at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)

He kicked off his three-year-old campaign by finishing last of five behind 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes hero Notable Speech at Kempton and then chased home Never So Brave at Chester, but a bitterly disappointing run in soft ground at the same venue last time left him with questions to answer.

Back on a sound surface and with cheek pieces applied for the first time, Witness Stand showed his true colours on the Sussex Downs, readily accounting for Piz Nair by three lengths.

Clover said: “He’s been second in three of his last five starts coming into here, so he’s run some very good races behind good horses, and it all worked for him today

“He wasn’t right at Chester last time – there were a few Newmarket horses a bit in and out of form, and he was clearly better than that run.

“He worked well last week and I thought he was a big price today.”

The Coral We’re Here For It Handicap brought the meeting to a close and it was 8-1 shot Paradias who emerged victorious.

Completing a double on the day for Rossa Ryan, Alan King’s 8-1 shot came home strongly to beat 7-4 favourite Native Warrior by a neck.

Ryan said: “It took a fair effort to do that with 10st 2lb, especially after being slowly away.

“If he didn’t run in the John Smith’s Cup when the ground went against him, he’d have been bang up in the market.

“He’s a good, honest character and it was good to see him do that.”



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Remaat connections keen to kick on from Newmarket romp

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Remaat could be set for a step up in class having opened her account in impressive fashion at Newmarket on Saturday.

Although well held on debut, the daughter of Kodiac showed significant improvement to finish second to subsequent Empress Stakes runner-up Tales Of The Heart in a hot Kempton maiden, before bolting up at the third attempt when upped to seven furlongs on the July course.

The Andrew Balding-trained youngster was a commanding four and a half lengths clear of Richard Hannon’s one-time Woodcote favourite New Charter at the finish of that contest and connections could now make the move into Pattern company on Remaat’s next start.

“I think she will be nice and winning four and a half lengths, we were obviously very pleased with her,” said Ted Voute, racing manager to owner Prince Faisal.

“Andrew has always thought a lot of this filly right from the beginning and we toyed with Royal Ascot but didn’t quite get her there – that’s the sort of level he was thinking.

“Now she is running over this trip, she seems to have come into her own, I know Oisin (Murphy, jockey) was pleased.

“I haven’t spoken to Andrew or the Prince, but there’s a seven-furlong Listed race at Sandown (Star Stakes, July 25) and the Sweet Solera back at Newmarket (August 10) I suppose.

“That’s what I was thinking, but I need to speak with Andrew and the Prince and see what they are thinking. Hopefully we have a nice filly.”

Balding and Prince Faisal’s Royal Ascot runner-up Hopeful is another who could go hunting black type if the opportunity arises.

Hopeful (left) went down fighting at Royal Ascot
Hopeful (left) went down fighting at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

The daughter of Make Believe was denied by a head in the Kensington Palace Stakes when bumping into Ralph Beckett’s Doha and her team are now perusing the programme book for a suitable contest.

“We’re hoping to find a bit of black type for Hopeful, who was second in the Kensington Palace at Ascot,” continued Voute.

Meanwhile, there was also a positive update on the wellbeing of Eydon, who was well-touted for the 2022 Derby having finished fourth in that year’s 2000 Guineas, but has had his fair share of injury woes in the time since.

Eydon winning at Newmarket as a three-year-old
Eydon winning at Newmarket as a three-year-old (Tim Goode/PA)

Last seen finishing well held in the Winter Derby following a 665-day absence, a patient approach is being taken ahead of a possible return later in the year.

Voute added: “Eydon has just started back cantering, he’s been on the treadmill and is taking his time coming back slowly.

“We hope to get him back for the back-end of the season, so fingers crossed he stays in one piece.”



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Kalpana inspiring Ribblesdale confidence for Juddmonte

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The Juddmonte team are quietly confident about the chances of Kalpana in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on Thursday.

Successful on her Wolverhampton introduction early in the new year, Andrew Balding’s filly went on to finish second to leading Commonwealth Cup candidate Inisherin on her next start at Newcastle before bouncing back to winning ways with a dominant 10-length victory on her turf debut at Newmarket.

She again had to make do with the silver medal when finding Friendly Soul too strong in the Pretty Polly Stakes back on the Rowley Mile in early May, but having kept their powder dry for the Royal meeting ever since, connections consider her one of their leading hopes of the week.

“Andrew was keen to give her a break after Newmarket, which was fair as she has been on the go since the beginning of the year racing on the all-weather,” said Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon.

“She’s had a nice little break and is training nicely and we were half tempted to supplement for the Oaks, but we just felt that freshening her up and heading into Ascot after a break was the right thing to do.

“She will definitely enjoy the step up to a mile and a half and she is one you would really be looking forward to this week.

“We’ve a nice bunch of horses, but she is one you can definitely get excited about.”

Diamond Rain and William Buick after winning at Newbury
Diamond Rain and William Buick after winning at Newbury (Steven Paston/PA)

The likely favourite for the Group Two contest is Charlie Appleby’s unbeaten filly Diamond Rain.

The daughter of Shamardal and Oaks winner Dancing Rain followed up debut win over a mile at Ascot with victory in a 10-furlong Listed event at Newbury and her trainer views a further rise in distance as a positive.

“Diamond Rain has had her two starts, winning at Ascot, so she’s got that experience behind her, and then winning very nicely at Newbury,” he told Godolphin.

“We feel the step up in trip should suit her and we feel she’s going to be a very competitive runner.”

Other contenders include Ralph Beckett’s Oaks fourth You Got To Me, while Aidan O’Brien saddles Port Fairy and Rubies Are Red in his bid for a fifth Ribblesdale victory.

John and Thady Gosden’s Danielle, not seen since finishing third after going off favourite for the Lingfield Oaks Trial, is another to to consider in an intriguing contest.



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Bellum Justum carrying King Power hopes in the Derby

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King Power Racing are hoping it is a case of third time lucky when course winner Bellum Justum returns to Epsom for the Betfred Derby.

The King Power team, whose horses run in the colours of their Premier League-bound football club Leicester City, have previously had two horses tackle the Epsom undulations in the premier Classic, with Bangkok beating just a sole rival home in 2019 and The Foxes an honourable fifth 12 months ago.

Both arguably failed to stay the mile-and-a-half Derby distance, but there seems to be no such concerns about this year’s candidate, with the Andrew Balding-trained colt heading to the Surrey track with his star on the rise.

Having taken his time to open his account last term, the 375,000 guineas son of Sea The Stars thrived on his seasonal return, claiming Epsom’s Blue Riband Trial and igniting Derby dreams with an impressive display.

The prospective mount of Oisin Murphy is a general 25-1 shot for Derby glory, but with plenty of questions already answered during his racecourse sighter, connections have cause for optimism in what they feel is an open race.

“I think it’s a big help knowing you have one that handles Epsom well,” explained Alastair Donald, racing manager for the owners.

Bellum Justum in action at Epsom
Bellum Justum in action at Epsom (John Walton/PA)

“He travelled strongly and we thought he might need that run a bit, so I think there will be improvement to come from him and unlike our other two runners in the Derby, there’s a decent chance he will stay.

“It took him a couple of runs to get going last year, but he ran in some red-hot maidens. Inisherin (who he beat at Newmarket) ran a big race in the 2000 Guineas and his form is strong – he’s definitely and improving horse.

“At the minute it’s quite an open Derby and a really interesting one. These are the races you want to be in and so we cross our fingers.”



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Juddmonte hope Cadogan Place can replicate Arrest with Vase success

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Owners Juddmonte will seek back-to-back victories in the Boodles Chester Vase Stakes on Wednesday when Cadogan Place attempts to replicate Arrest’s triumph of 12 months ago.

Like Arrest, Andrew Balding’s colt is a smartly-bred son of Frankel, but whereas last year’s scorer brought Group form to the table, this year’s model is very much an unproven prospect as he steps up in class following a winning debut at Southwell.

Rolleston novice winners would not typically be fancied for Classic trials on their next start, but this particular 11-furlong event had a strong look to it with Cadogan Place narrowly getting the better of a Charlie Appleby Betfred Derby entrant, the reopposing Hidden Law.

“He’s a nice colt who has just taken a bit of time – which is why he started so late, he’s a big horse,” said Barry Mahon, Juddmonte’s European racing manager.

“He won his novice from Charlie’s horse who has since gone on and franked the form with an impressive win at Newbury. They reoppose each other again and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

“He’s a nice colt, he’s improving a lot and is a well-bred colt, so we’re looking forward to a good run.”

Arrest would go on from Chester to subsequently be sent off favourite for the Derby on his next start.

Cadogan Place does not currently hold an entry ticket to the Premier Classic, but a trip to Epsom is not completely off the table, with connections keen to learn plenty about their colt who will be partnered by Oisin Murphy on the Roodee.

“I suppose we’re going to find out what we have and we didn’t have the Derby on our minds, simply as in he didn’t make it to the track at two,” continued Mahon.

“He’s not an exuberant work horse at home, so we didn’t have Epsom on our mind.

“He won his novice in nice fashion, but there hasn’t been a whole lot of options to run him back in a novice. This is a nice option and it tells us where we will go from here.

“He’s a fine, big, well-bred horse and very nice physically. He’s taken his time to mature, but he passed his first test and we’re stepping up to the next level and if he passes that then there’s all the conversations to be had. And if he doesn’t we can then make alternative plans.”

The aforementioned Hidden Law built on his short-head Southwell defeat to Cadogan Place when blitzing the opposition in impressive fashion at Newbury on his second start.

His trainer already houses the ante-post Derby favourite at his Moulton Paddocks base, but Hidden Law is as short as 16-1 himself for Classic honours on June 1 and is given the chance to throw his hat into the Godolphin reckoning.

“We were delighted with Hidden Law at Newbury, when he showed a big improvement from his first start,” Appleby told www.godolphin.com.

“We know this is a fair step up in class, but he looked to run to a decent level when winning his maiden. This will hopefully give us a clearer picture of his summer programme.”

Also preparing to test his mettle in deep waters is John and Thady Gosden’s Wolverhampton winner Pappano, who like Hidden Law will be out to justify his Derby entry.

He represents last year’s winning team, but may need to raise his game in this company to provide Clarehaven with consecutive Vase victories.

“He won well at Wolverhampton first time out this year and has come forward for that run,” said Thady Gosden.

“He is stepping up in grade significantly, but he is a horse we have always liked. He is obviously still inexperienced and he’s stepping into a solid race where Grosvenor Square sets the standard off 109, but the race looks a good fit for him.”

Grosvenor Square finished his two-year-old season with a taking victory
Grosvenor Square finished his two-year-old season by taking victory (Damien Eagers/PA)

Aidan O’Brien’s record in this race is exemplary and the Ballydoyle handler saddles two in search of a record-extending 11th success in the Group Three event.

O’Brien sent out Ruler Of The World to win this in 2013 before going on to strike at Epsom, while Wings Of Eagles was runner-up in 2017 before going one better on the Surrey Downs later that summer.

This time around his main hopes lie with Grosvenor Square, who ran out a comfortable winner of the Eyrefield Stakes on his final start at two. He is the mount of Ryan Moore, while Dylan Browne McMonagle will partner stablemate Agenda.

Moore told Betfair: “He looks the clear form choice on his form at two. I didn’t ride him in any of his three starts last year, but he followed up a good third in the Beresford when an impressive winner of a Group Three at Leopardstown on deep ground.

“He promises to be well suited to this trip and there is no reason to think he won’t be as least as effective on a decent surface. In fact, he will probably improve for it.

“He’s a good prospect, but our other Galileo colt, Agenda, is far from out of this, either.”

Karl Burke’s Golden West showed a decent level of form in two outings as a juvenile and completes the line-up, expected to improve for his recent Longchamp return.



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