Andrew Balding

Trying a seventh furlong for the first time in Sunday's G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury, Jeff Smith's G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) had just enough stamina to see it out and deny the dark horse Statement (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) in a bobber. Held out wide halfway down the field under Oisin Murphy, the 9-4 favourite swooped to the front with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and had to battle as the Martyn Meade trainee joined her soon after. Getting her nose down on the...

Group 1 winner Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) will return in the G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury on Apr. 17 prior to taking her chance in the G1 English 1000 Guineas on May 2. A winner of the G1 Cheveley Park S. last term, the Andrew Balding trainee has wintered well, but is still in her winter coat. "I'm delighted with her--the only problem is she's still wearing her winter collection at the moment," Balding told Sky Sports Racing. "I'm just hoping the coat starts to shift--which it...

Entries were revealed on Wednesday for the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas and G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas, with 72 colts signed on for the 2000 Guineas on May 1 and 63 fillies for the 1000 the following day. Aidan O'Brien has saddled 10 winners of the first Classic of the season and has 12 entries for the 2000 Guineas, including 2-year-old champion St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and G2 Vintage S. scorer Battleground (War Front). O'Brien's son Joseph, likewise, has Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez's G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National S. winner Thunder...

The G1 Dubai Sheema Classic is a potential March target for G1 St Leger second Berkshire Rocco (Fr) (Sir Percy {GB}) according to trainer Andrew Balding. Since taking the Listed Noel Murless S. in October, the colt returned to be the runner-up in the H H the Amir Trophy in Qatar on Feb. 20. "He ran a smashing race," said Balding. "It was his first run for a while, and he's entitled to come on for that. All being well, he might head towards Meydan for the Sheema Classic. He's...

In Moment of 2020, the staff of TDN Europe reflect on their favourite moments in racing for the year. Future Classic winner Kameko (Kitten's Joy) first came on my radar with his nose second in the G3 Solario S. in August of 2019 after winning on debut at Sandown in July. I especially noticed the flashy dark bay because he bore the same Qatar Racing silks as another favourite of mine, the late Cartier Horse of the Year Roaring Lion, also a Kentucky-bred incidentally by Kitten's Joy. A $90,000 Keeneland...

Kameko (Kitten's Joy-Sweeter Still {Ire}, by Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who won this year's G1 2000 Guineas in race record time, will stand for £25,000 at Tweenhills Stud next year. In addition to the Guineas, Kameko won the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at two and the G2 Joel S. on Sept. 25 against elders. He was fourth this summer in the G1 Epsom Derby, G1 Sussex S. and G1 Juddmonte International. "It was hugely exciting to have Kameko arrive at Tweenhills last night and after a gruelling 40-hour journey from...

This year's G1 2000 Guineas scorer Kameko (Kitten's Joy) will retire to Tweenhills Stud upon conclusion of his 3-year-old campaign this year. In addition to the 2000 Guineas, Kameko won last year's G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy. He was fourth in three consecutive Group 1s this summer before besting older horses in the G2 Joel S. and is set to run in the Breeders' Cup. Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani, chairman of Qatar Racing, said, "My brothers and I are delighted to own another superstar in Kameko, whose record-breaking 2- and 3-year-old campaigns...

Like last year's G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. winner Millisle (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) beaten in the G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S. at Salisbury Sept. 3, Jeff Smith's Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) made a similar step forward to prove fastest where it mattered in Saturday's fillies' feature at Newmarket. Quickly able to head the fast-breaking G2 Lowther S. winner Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), the heavily-supported 7-2 second favourite was there to be shot at on the front end throughout but was able to ward off threats on...

Saddled with a five-pound penalty as a result of his G1 2000 Guineas triumph, Qatar Racing's Kameko (Kitten's Joy) proved himself one of the better winners of that Classic in recent times when overcoming the extra burden to take the G2 Shadwell Joel S. over the same Newmarket mile on Friday. Settled behind the leading duo early by Oisin Murphy, the 85-40 second favourite needed rousing to get to last year's winner Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) but responded by usurping that rival with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining. At the line,...

Newbury's G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef S. has been won by the sprinting luminaries Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) in recent times and Saturday's renewal has some potential class acts lurking in the line-up for the six-furlong feature. Setting the standard is John Dance's Rhythm Master (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) following his third placing in the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville on Aug. 23, but he has several unexposed rivals placing a target on him and will have to be every bit as...

Following a seven-day suspension, champion jockey Oisin Murphy booted home his 100th winner of the abbreviated COVID-19 season. The Kodi Kid (Ire) (Kodi Bear {GB}) won the first race on the card at Bath and was Murphy's 539th ride of the year. "It's great to get another one on the board for Andrew--he's my biggest supporter and the horses are flying, so I'm thrilled," said Oisin Murphy of the Andrew Balding trainee. "It's great to do it [ride 100th winner] for Andrew. This horse ran well last time and this...

Tackling near two and a quarter miles for the first time, Team Valor and Gary Barber's Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) excelled at the trip to win Friday's G2 bet365 Doncaster Cup and stake his claim as a major player in the staying category. Always travelling easily in fifth for William Buick, the 6-4 favourite who had won the Aug. 20 Listed Chester S. after his move to Andrew Balding loomed alongside Selino (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) with purpose having already travelled two miles. Sent into the clear from there,...