Andrew Balding | Horse Racing Free Tips

Hurricane Lane Leads 18 St Leger Nominations

Classic winner Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who won the G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Paris already this summer, will line up for Godolphin in the G1 Cazoo St Leger on Sept. 11, one of 18 colts and fillies left in the fall Classic. G1 Cazoo Derby hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), who also races for Godolphin, will not take part, and instead target the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Richard Hannon's Mojo Star (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), one better than Hurricane Lane's third in the Derby and fifth in the Irish equivalent is also signed on. The progressive G3 Gordon S. winner Ottoman Emperor (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) for Johnny Murtagh and Martyn Meade's Irish Derby second Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) also remain at the latest forfeit stage. One of two for Andrew Balding is G2 Great Voltigeur third Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).

Aidan O'Brien fields an octet at this point for the race, including Sir Lamorak (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), listed winner and G3 Gordon S. second Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and G2 Great Voltigeur runner-up The Mediterranean (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

A pair of listed-winning fillies have also stood their ground in Roger Varian's Save A Forest (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Ralph Beckett's Yesyes (GB) (Camelot {GB}).

Murtagh said of Ottoman Emperor, “That is the plan so far–we've had no problems, touch wood. I've not been speaking much to the OTI people [owners] since after Goodwood-[but] the English St Leger is the next stop.

“That last run was good, and the form of that race stood up at York. I think he deserves his chance in the St Leger–whether he stays the mile and six is a question mark, but we'll have to pay to find out.”

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Back To A Mile For Alcohol Free

G1 Coronation S. and G1 Sussex S. winner Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) will revert to the mile distance over which she won those two features for the Oct. 16 G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. after beating just one home in Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International over a mile and a quarter. The 3-year-old filly, who also won last year's G1 Cheveley Park S., was racing beyond a mile for the first time.

“Going up to a mile and a quarter was always going to be a punt,” said trainer Andrew Balding. “She looked like she had come there and was only going to be beaten a couple of lengths into second. Having looked like she was going to get placed, she didn't quite get home over the last 100 yards, but we have learned something from it. She was fine this morning. She will have a little holiday now as she has been busy enough. She is entered in the [G1] Sun Chariot, but the plan is to come back and have a go at the Queen Elizabeth II S. at Ascot on Champions Day.”

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First ThoroughBid Sale Set For Sept. 12

New digital sale platform ThoroughBid will host its first sale on Sept. 12, the company announced on Thursday. Entries will be accepted for the platform through Friday, Sept. 3. ThoroughBid, which is currently a team sponsor in the William Hill Racing League, will kick off their sale at 10 a.m. on Sept. 12, with bidding ending for each lot at two-minute intervals beginning at 6 p.m. In addition, anti-snipe technology will be utilised, so that any bid made in the last minute will extend the auction by an additional two minutes.

Will Kinsey, co-founder of ThoroughBid, said, “The feedback we've had since launching last month has been very encouraging. ThoroughBid's sponsorship of the Racing League has helped raise awareness of what we are doing and it's been great to hear from a range of trainers, owners and breeders who are all interested in being involved in our first sale.

“The first sale falling in mid-September provides everyone with a good opportunity to buy and sell bloodstock. The flexibility of our product means we can setup future sales to suit the needs of the industry rather than sticking to traditional dates.”

Added Andrew Balding, who currently leads the UK Trainers' Championship and is one of Team ThoroughBid's trainers in the Racing League, “Selling horses is always a challenge and a new platform like ThoroughBid is very welcome.

“Not everybody needs to be waiting for the autumn sales and, obviously, income for our owners is very important if they are going to re-invest in time for the yearling sales.”

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Balding Juvenile Stars Target Group 1s

Trainer Andrew Balding outlined some long term Group 1 goals for his juvenile stable stars, with Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten), Berkshire Shadow (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), and Majestic Glory (GB) (Frankel {GB}) all bound for Group 1 targets in the fall.

The G2 Sky Bet Lowther S. at York on Aug. 19 is the next racecourse appearance for Kirsten Rausing's homebred G3 Albany S. and G2 Duchess Of Cambridge S. heroine. All being well, the dark bay will then take part in the six-furlong G1 Juddmonte Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket on Sept. 25.

Balding said of the three-for-three filly, “Sandrine looks very good and I've been thrilled with her last two runs. She will probably run in the Lowther next then all eyes will be on the Cheveley Park. She will carry a penalty [at York] but we didn't want to wait until Newmarket to run her again. She seems to be very versatile ground wise. She is a very smart filly and is an absolute pleasure to train.”

Victorious at Newbury when unveiled in April, Berkshire Shadow saluted at Royal Ascot in the G2 Coventry S. He was last seen running second over soft ground in the G2 Vintage S. at Goodwood on July 27. The Sept. 25 G1 Muddmonte Middle Park S. going six furlongs or the G1 Darley Dewhurst S. over seven furlongs on Oct. 9 are both likely targets for the progressive colt.

“We might drop him back to six and look at the Gimcrack at York before looking at options like the Middle Park or Dewhurst in the autumn. He is a very talented horse and if he encountered soft ground again I imagine he would perform better on it now having raced on it. Like Sandrine, it is a pleasure to have him in the yard.”

Rounding out the Balding trio is Saturday's G3 Sweet Solera S. heroine Majestic Glory. Sixth at Windsor making her first start on July 5, the bay improved to second at Newbury on July 16 and donned cap and gown transferred to Newmarket on July 30, her final appearance before her Sweet Solera score. The Oct. 8 G1 bet365 Fillies' Mile is in the cards for Majestic Glory.

He added, “It was a very good performance that Majestic Glory put up in the Sweet Solera S. at Newmarket on Saturday and her breeding suggests she should stay further than seven furlongs.

“She hadn't had a massively hard race the time before and this looked a fairly good opportunity at this level so we took and I thought she looked very smart.”

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