Andrew Balding

International bloodstock agent Alastair Donald, who purchased Thursday's G2 Dante S. winner The Foxes  (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) on behalf of the King Power team, is backing the colt to get the Derby trip at Epsom.  The Foxes was cut into a general 8-1 chance for Derby glory after winning the key trial at York for trainer Andrew Balding and the in-form jockey Oisin Murphy.  He hails from a family the connections know well, given the half-brother Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) carried the blue and white silks of King Power with...

There was as much uncertainty as to what would start favourite for Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. than what would emerge on top in York's time-honoured Derby trial, but in the end it was one of the benchmark horses The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}--Tanaghum {GB}, by Darshaan {GB}) who held the bragging rights. King Power Racing's G2 Royal Lodge S. winner had been undone by Indestructible (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the G3 Craven S. at Newmarket last month but appreciated this step up to an extended 10...

Juddmonte's Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) has emerged from his win in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas in good order, and a start in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot is his next target, according to the organisation's racing manager Barry Mahon. "He's taken it well, he's good," said Mahon. "Andrew [Balding, trainer] was happy with him when I spoke to him yesterday. He said he was quite tired on Sunday, but he said yesterday morning he was in good form again. "The ground was very soft, yet...

It's a heady time of year to be on Newmarket Heath of a Saturday morning. You can tell by the convoy of smart cars when one of the big strings is about to arrive at the Al Bahathri, with Guineas weekend providing the perfect opportunity for owners to watch their horses work.  This past Saturday, either 2,000 Guineas day, Kentucky Derby day, or Coronation day, depending on your persuasion, was no exception. With the car park double-stacked and trainers and jockeys all about, Joe Foley, waiting for the off with...

Persistent rain in the lead-up to Saturday's G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas turned the ground to soft at Newmarket and while several of the race's big names floundered, Juddmonte's ultra-professional Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Suelita {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}) stayed straight and true to win with authority. Providing Frankie Dettori with the ultimate final ride in the mile Classic, the Andrew Balding-trained 7-2 second favourite tracked TDN Rising Star Hi Royal (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) up the centre and as that 125-1 shot began to veer left heading into the dip and...

Group 1 winner Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who races for Juddmonte, is reportedly in good order ahead of a start in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas on Saturday, according to trainer Andrew Balding. The colt, who dislodged Frankie Dettori at the start of the G3 Craven S. before completing a circuit of the course, worked "extremely well" on Saturday, Balding noted. "We will only know on Saturday what we missed out on at Newbury and the benefits of having a run as obviously it would have been far more of...

Group winner The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), second in the G3 Craven S. to Indestructible (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) last month, is likely for the G2 Dante S. at York mid-month, according to jockey Oisin Murphy. The King Power runner secured Newmarket's G2 Royal Lodge S. in September, and he will be trying the 10-furlong distance for the first time at York. "He's a lovely horse," said Murphy, who rode the colt in the Craven at Newmarket. "In hindsight I wish I had just followed Indestructible a bit longer. "We felt...

Irish National Stud resident Phoenix Of Spain (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) became Europe's latest first-crop sire to get off the mark when Spanish Phoenix (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}--Freedom March {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) graduated at the second time of asking in Saturday's £8,000 Atlantic Pale Ale Maiden S. over five furlongs at Leicester. The even-money favourite, who ran fourth in his Apr. 10 debut at Kempton, raced on the front end after a slick getaway and extended clear under mild urging once shaken up approaching the final...

A mouthwatering early-season clash could be on between G1 2000 Guineas hopefuls Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Noble Style (GB) (Kingman {GB}) after Charlie Appleby confirmed the latter to be on course for the G3 Greenham S. at Newbury in April.  Andrew Balding had already told TDN Europe that Chaldean, the highest-rated juvenile in Britain last season, would run in next month's Greenham en route to Newmarket.  Noble Style, impressive in the G2 Gimcrack S. last year, will tackle seven furlongs for the first time at Newbury with Appleby keen...

Four-time Group 1 winner Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) reeled in a cool 5.4million guineas final bid from BBA Ireland to highlight Tuesday's second session of the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in Newmarket. Out of the placed mare Plying (Hard Spun), she was consigned by Andrew Balding's Park House Stables on behalf of Littleton Stud. A half-sister to listed winner Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), the 4-year-old is responsible for annexing the G1 Sussex S., G1 July Cup, G1 Cheveley Park S. and G1 Coronation S.   [tdn_video service="youtube"...

SAKHIR, Bahrain--It has been a big year for Harry Davies. Having made his first appearance under rules aboard Battered (GB) for Hugo Palmer at Southwell on January 11, Britain's fastest-rising apprentice is currently engaged in his first overseas riding job at the Bahrain Turf Club, where he is working for leading trainer Allan Smith.  In the weighing-room, Davies is as fresh-faced as they come, but then that's no surprise as he is still only 17. In conversation, however, he has the maturity and quiet confidence of someone twice his age....

It's a rare Jeff Smith colour-bearer that has not been bred at his successful Hampshire nursery of Littleton Stud, but shopping around for new blood can pay dividends for breeders, and in the case of Alcohol Free (Ire), there have been handsome dividends indeed.  Four years ago, the weanling daughter of No Nay Never caught the eye of Littleton Stud manager David Bowe at the Goffs November Sale, where she was bought from her breeder Churchtown Stud for €40,000. By the time the four-time Group 1 winner exits from her...