Andrew Balding

Her Majesty The Queen's Tactical (GB) (Toronado {Ire}), a Group 2 winner, is a contender for the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket on Sept. 26. The Andrew Balding trainee was third in a Newmarket novice when unveiled on June 4 before breaking his maiden in the Listed Windsor Castle S. at Royal Ascot on June 17. Another win, this time in the G2 Tattersalls July S. on July 9, set him up for the Aug. 23 G1 Darley Prix Morny. Fifth in that affair after disliking the ground, the...

Ahmad Al Shaikh's Khalifa Sat (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire}), the 50-1 runner-up in the G1 Investec Derby, will target the G3 Gordon S. at Goodwood on July 30, should he come through a work later this week in good order. Khalifa Sat had earmarked himself as a potential talent when winning the Listed Cocked Hat S. also at Goodwood in June, and cemented that status in the Derby. "There's a possibility he could run in the Gordon S. at Goodwood next week, depending on how he comes through a bit...

Kameko (Kitten's Joy) and Siskin (First Defence), winners respectively of the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas and G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, are set to meet in the G1 Sussex S. on July 29. Kameko was last seen finishing fourth in the G1 Investec Derby on July 4, while Siskin comes in off his Curragh Classic win on June 12. David Redvers, racing and bloodstock advisor to Kameko's owner Qatar Racing, told Nick Luck's Daily podcast that the Sussex would be used as a stepping stone to the G1 Juddmonte International...

Thursday's G2 Tattersalls July S. took place against a backdrop of unseasonably wet weather on Newmarket's July Course, but The Queen's Tactical (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) shone through with a touch of class to add to his Listed Windsor Castle S. success. Having beaten Yazaman (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths in that five-furlong Ascot speed test June 17, the 5-2 second favourite was able to confirm that form by the exact same margin as the duo pulled 2 3/4 lengths clear of Escape Route (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}). Held...

The next big aim for Kameko (Kitten's Joy) remains the G1 Juddmonte International on Aug. 19, but the G1 2000 Guineas winner could take in the G1 Sussex S. en route on July 29, trainer Andrew Balding revealed the day after the colt finished fourth as the post time favourite in the G1 Investec Derby. "Obviously it was slightly disappointing, because we had huge expectations, but that's why it is such an important and special race--you only get one chance at it, and it is very difficult to win," Balding...

Saturday sees racing continue its measured defiance of the chaos around the globe, with the 241st renewal of one of the beautiful races, the G1 Investec Derby, emanating light as a beacon to the world's audience from its traditional home of Epsom Downs in Surrey. As it is, this will likely be the only post-Royal Ascot one, which adds a fascinating new dimension to a dramatically purse-reduced renewal and also to the stage-sharing G1 Investec Oaks. Due to the vagaries of the current situation, only one of the 24 colts...

Trainer Andrew Balding said he has "been really pleased" with Kameko (Kitten's Joy) since his victory in the June 6 G1 2000 Guineas, and that the Qatar Racing colorbearer came through a racecourse gallop at Kempton on Wednesday well. He is aiming for the July 4 G1 Investec Derby. "He went to Kempton [on Wednesday] for a gallop, which we did before Newmarket 10 days prior, and it went well," Balding said. "We had the option of going to Epsom, they kindly offered, but I felt he needed a decent...

A gamble was landed in the Listed Windor Castle S. as Tactical (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) brought up a 24th Royal Ascot winner for The Queen. Third on debut over this five-furlong trip at Newmarket June 4, the heavily-supported 7-2 favourite tracked the early pace stands' side and after reeling in Muker (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in the last half a furlong asserted to score by 1 1/4 lengths from Yazaman (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who denied Muker in a photo. Trainer Andrew Balding, whose stable is in a rich vein of form,...

In bloodstock circles, plenty of air is devoted to rueing the unforgiving nature of the market, not least the tendency to toss a mare out with the bath water should she fail to sparkle with her first few foals. When Kameko (Kitten's Joy) won the G1 2000 Guineas on June 6, he made a fairly strong case for perseverance. His dam, the well-bred graded stakes winner Sweeter Still (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), had been the co-second highest priced lot at Keeneland's January Sale in 2014 at $750,000 in foal...

There was a real buzz surrounding Qatar Racing's Kameko (Kitten's Joy) as the delayed G1 QIPCO 2,000 Guineas approached and the G1 Futurity Trophy winner justified all the expectation as he swooped to conquer the Newmarket Classic on Saturday. Arriving at the forefront of his generation with an emphatic win in Doncaster's traditional juvenile feature which was re-arranged on Newcastle's Tapeta in November, the bay had earned rave reviews from Andrew Balding's Kingsclere base during this year's prolonged waiting period. In mid-division on the rail as the pace proved strong...

Runner-up in the "Road To the Kentucky Derby" Conditions S. when last seen over a mile at Kempton Mar.  4, George Strawbridge's Berlin Tango (GB) (Dansili {GB}) dented some lofty reputations in this G3 Classic Trial over 10 furlongs at the same track. Travelling enthusiastically under David Probert in a share of fourth early, the 7-1 shot who was twice placed at listed level at two quickened up smartly on the home turn, jumped on the 15-8 favourite Hypothetical (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) to lead two out and gave...

Trainer Andrew Balding had a positive report regarding G1SW Kameko (Kitten's Joy) in advance of the G1 English 2000 Guineas on June 6, Racing TV reported on Tuesday. The Qatar Racing runner galloped at Kempton last week. A last out winner of the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. over the Newcastle all-weather, the big bay opened his career with a debut win at Sandown, before a pair of runner-up efforts in the G3 Solario S. and the G2 Royal Lodge S. "He had a gallop at Kempton last week and...