Tag: Andrew Balding

Frankel’s Majestic Glory Claims Sweet Solera Success

Following up a breakthrough score tackling six furlongs at Newmarket at the end of last month, Andrew Balding trainee Majestic Glory (GB) (Frankel {GB}) returned to the scene of that success to claim a determined first stakes success in Saturday's G3 100% Racingtv Profits Back To Racing Sweet Solera S. over seven furlongs. The 5-1 chance had earlier backed up a July 5 debut eighth at Windsor with a July 16 second at Newbury, both over six furlongs, and raced in a share of third along the far-side rail after the initial exchanges of this black-type bow. Angled into an open path approaching the quarter-mile marker, she gained control at the foot of the hill and was ridden out on the climb to hold the persistent threat of Wild Beauty (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and the pacesetting Value Theory (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) by a length and 1 1/4 lengths.

“This is our first adventure and on the Flat and it doesn't get much better racing up in this class,” said winning owner Gearoid Costelloe. “She did it well to come through the gap she had to go through as well and I'm very happy. Andrew [Balding] kept saying she keeps improving, he was very confident this morning and thankfully he was right. It all worked out, it's fantastic to have a winner here and it was very important getting the black-type. She was bred to go over further so to win over six furlongs last time was a bonus and, hopefully, she will go on from this.  We've not got a plan and will do whatever Andrew tells us, he is doing a very good job and we will just follow him.”

Winning rider David Probert added, “It was a quick turnaround, but she has got a great attitude and handles this track very well. She got slightly boxed in along the rail, but she is small enough and nimble enough to find her way out of trouble. She has hit the rising ground well and is progressing quite nicely.”

Majestic Glory is the third of five foals and first black-type scorer for Bella Nouf (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who is a dual-winning half-sister to three stakes performers headed by Listed Lyric S. victrix Nouriya (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). Nouriya produced G2 Duke of Cambride S. victrix Aljazzi (GB) (Shamardal), herself the dam of Listed John Musker S. winner Majestic Noor (GB) (Galileo {Ire}). Majestic Glory's third dam Shy Danceuse (Groom Dancer), a half-sister to G2 Diadem S. victor Diffident (Fr) (Nureyev), is the dam of Listed Prix Occitanie winner Sweet Story (Ire) (Green Tune) and Listed Oppenheim-Rennen victrix Shy Lady (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}). Shy Lady, in turn, threw four black-type winners headed by G1 St. James's Palace S. hero and G1 2000 Guineas runner-up Zafeen (Fr) (Zafonic). Bella Nouf has a yearling filly by Roaring Lion and a weanling colt by Zoustar (Aus) to come.

Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
100% RACINGTV PROFITS BACK TO RACING SWEET SOLERA S.-G3, £60,000, Newmarket, 8-7, 2yo, f, 7fT, 1:25.83, gd.
1–MAJESTIC GLORY (GB), 126, f, 2, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Bella Nouf (GB), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Majestic Sakeena (Ire), by King's Best
3rd Dam: Shy Danceuse, by Groom Dancer
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (350,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; 290,000gns RNA Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Gearoid Costelloe; B-The Bella Nouf Partnership (GB); T-Andrew Balding; J-David Probert. £34,026. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $58,250. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Wild Beauty (GB), 126, f, 2, Frankel (GB)–Tulips (Ire), by Pivotal (GB). O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £12,900.
3–Value Theory (Ire), 126, f, 2, Gleneagles (Ire)–Venetian Beauty, by Lear Fan. (50,000gns Ylg '20 TATOCT). O-Dr Jim Walker; B-Chris & James McHale (IRE); T-Mark Johnston. £6,456.
Margins: 1, 1 1/4, 2. Odds: 5.00, 2.50, 3.00.
Also Ran: Sunstrike (Ire), Almohandesah (GB), Shouldavbeenmore (Fr), Ardbraccan (Ire), Victoria Grove (GB), Nurseclaire (Fr), Renaissance (Ire). Scratched: Rolling The Dice (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Frankel’s Majestic Glory Claims Sweet Solera Success appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Buick and Balding Top Qatar Goodwood Festival

Jockey William Buick and trainer Andrew Balding were named the Qatar Goodwood Festival Leading Jockey and Leading Trainer, respectively, on Saturday.

Buick, who gets married on Sunday, had previously won the award in 2014. The 33-year-old's best rides of the week were Suesa (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire})'s win in the G2 King George Qatar S. and Saturday's G2 Qatar Lillie Langtry S. heroine Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}).

Buick said, “I'm delighted to be leading jockey at Glorious Goodwood. I knew I had some good rides. It is always a week you look back on and think there are one or two races you would like to have a go at again but, all in all, it has been a great week.

“I am really pleased, Suesa and Wonderful Tonight being the highlights. I had some nice rides coming into the week and was quite positive.

“I've now got my wedding tomorrow. I'm a bit nervous now but it should be a brilliant day and we're getting married at a church opposite where we live. Now I have got to get my head into my speech–all week I have been focusing on my job, now I am going to focus on tomorrow! It should be a great day. James Doyle is my best man.”

Balding's horses won two races on Saturday, giving him a total of five wins at the meeting, good enough to take the trainers' title. The Kingsclere handler sent out Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) to scoop the G1 Qatar Sussex S. on Wednesday, the first time since Soviet Song (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) in 2004 a filly had won the iconic showpiece.

Balding said, “I thought we had a chance coming into today and we've had a couple of winners. We have targeted this meeting with the right horses. The ground suited most of them and it has been a good week.

“It was a special moment for us with Alcohol Free. She is a special filly and we really enjoyed it.”

At the conclusion of the five-day meeting, Jon Barnett, Goodwood Racecourse's Director, said, “We were delighted to have been the first major racing festival to welcome back full capacity crowds. The atmosphere on course has been fabulous throughout with a real buzz, particularly on Friday and Saturday where crowd levels were as good as we can remember with a sell-out capacity reached in a number of enclosures.

“The weather largely remained unsettled, but the racing stories and true 'Glorious Goodwood' experience shone through. Attendance for the week has reached 2019 levels, which was a fantastic year for us, with sales on food and beverage far higher than we would normally have anticipated as racegoers celebrated a return to the Festival.

“Finally, we must extend our sincere thanks to the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, who have been the headline sponsor for the seventh year. Without their support alongside our other official partners, including Unibet, this would not be possible.

The post Buick and Balding Top Qatar Goodwood Festival appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Breeders’ Cup Challenge: ‘Simply Incredible’ Alcohol Free Draws Clear In Sussex Stakes

Alcohol Free (No Nay Never) led home a 1-2-3 for 3-year-olds in the G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes, a clash of the generations over a mile and the highlight on day two of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The win earned Alcohol Free an expenses-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Mile this fall at Del Mar.

Jockey Oisin Murphy held the Coronation Stakes winner up in the early stages, seeking cover before pouncing as the race developed two furlongs from home. Trained by Andrew Balding, the 7/2 chance had too much in reserve for the 11/8 favorite Poetic Flare, who was trying to add to his 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes victories this season.

The winning distance was a length and three-quarters at the line, with Falmouth Stakes heroine Snow Lantern (6/1) running on late to take third and complete a clean sweep for 3-year-olds.

Winning owner Jeff Smith has enjoyed much success at the Qatar Goodwood Festival over the decades, most memorably with Chief Singer, who landed this race in 1984, Lochsong and Persian Punch.

Smith said: “I won my first Sussex Stakes 37 years ago – I had jet black hair and no worries in the world! I thought it was very easy and that I would come back and do it again.

“This filly is something else. The way she has won is simply incredible, I am thrilled to pieces. What a wonderful job Andrew and the whole team have done.

“It wasn't so much the opposition; I was more concerned that we did not have a repeat of the Falmouth where she got left in the lead having broken too well. She needs to get cover and something to aim at.

“Then she got bumped around and pushed back, but then the way she picked up showed what she really is. She is a champion – there is no question in my mind.”


Balding, who won the 2017 Sussex Stakes with outsider Here Comes When, said: “Maybe we got lucky with Here Comes When, although that was hugely rewarding, don't get me wrong.

“But this filly has already won two Group 1 races, so it was lovely to see her cement her place at the top of the tree.

“Oisin was at pains to try and tuck in and get some cover because she's so much better when you are able to do that and she has got something to aim at. Poetic Flare is a very good horse, but she really did it well in the end.

“I am sure there were hard luck stories, but I am sure she was the best horse on the day. It was lovely to see her do that because we have always believed in her. It is no easy task taking on the colts and older horses, and to do it in that style was just fantastic.”

Balding continued: “It is a privilege, it really is, watching her at home in the mornings. Cassia, who rides her every day, does a wonderful job as she tends to get a little highly strung. Watching her work is demoralizing for the other horses; we have to keep swapping the lead horse because she is just so, so good. You see her afterwards and she is hardly blowing – it is effortless really.

“She has looked very good right from her first bit of work, and we ran her on one bit of work. She had been cantering, we worked her once and thought we'd better run her. She went to Newbury and hosed up. She has been the victim of bad draws whenever she has run, to be honest.

“She probably would have won the Dick Poole, and, with a good draw, I think in the Guineas she would have gone close had she been drawn in the middle or to the far side. Anyway, I will take this over all of those!”

Regarding future targets, Balding added: “It was Jeff Smith's idea in the first place, and I don't think it's a bad idea, to put her in the International at York and we decided to keep her in at yesterday's forfeit stage.

“It might be asking a bit much, going a mile and a quarter, but she's a filly that has won three Group 1 races, so we have very little to lose.

“If it doesn't work, we'll regroup and go back to the mile race on Champions Day.”

[Story Continues Below]

Murphy said: “I can't thank everyone at Park House enough. Alcohol Free really can be a handful in the mornings. Cassia has to deal with her every day and deserves a medal because she can be really tough work.

“Anyone who follows me on Instagram will see that, when I go to tack her up, she looks like she is going to bite or kick me. Then when you get near her, she is quite the opposite. She is a special character.

“Alcohol Free is so, so talented and what a thrill I got from that. I've won this race before on Lightning Spear and last year it all went wrong on Kameko. Day to day, you have to just keep kicking.

“Alcohol Free thrives on racing, and she felt super on Saturday; we only went four furlongs, but I was full of confidence to be honest, particularly when the rain came.

“I knew James Doyle would go forward on Century Dream but on his own terms and in his own rhythm. I knew Tilsit under Kieran Shoemark and Alcohol Free would fight for the same position. Unfortunately, she is 440kgs and Tilsit is probably 500kgs plus. I was never going to win that battle and was happy to come back and trust that Kieran would move at the right time and that I would be able to get out and slip into the race. The race really ran from when we turned into the straight and then it was a grind to the line.

“Jeff Smith has been an incredible supporter of horse racing for a long time. I don't know how many employees there are at Park House Stables, but they all play their part and this will mean the world to them.”

Una Manning, daughter of Jim Bolger, said of the runner-up: “Kevin [Manning] said for Poetic Flare that it was the same as France again. The ground just blunted his speed, and I would say the wind drying it out has just made the ground tacky.

“That was all that Kevin said – the ground. We were always going to turn up here, it was just unfortunate that the rain came. We were game to go and had to give it our best go.

“Poetic Flare has lost nothing in defeat. He loves his racing, loves his work. He's an easy horse to deal with and to travel. Bringing him over here wasn't going to be any sort of disadvantage to him even if the ground didn't turn out like he wanted.”

Kevin Manning said: “It was the same as in Paris. I was riding Poetic Flare a little bit behind the bridle from a long way down, whereas on good ground he is travelling into his races. I think the ground has just blunted him for speed. It is tacky, holding ground and there is no bounce in it.

“Poetic Flare has dug very deep and I thought for a few strides when Alcohol Free came by that he would shunt her back.

“He's won a 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace on good to quick ground. The runs that he hasn't lived up to have both come on soft ground.”

Snow Lantern's rider Jamie Spencer said: “The pace was only just OK. When they quickened at the three, I was caught a little flat-footed, but I hit the line very strong. Further won't be a problem.”

The post Breeders’ Cup Challenge: ‘Simply Incredible’ Alcohol Free Draws Clear In Sussex Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Big Day For No Nay Never As Alcohol Free Wins The Sussex

In the battle between the 3-year-old colts and fillies, it was Jeff Smith's Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) who prevailed over Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) with an impressive success in Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex S. at Goodwood. Trapped wide throughout the early stages from her wide draw and forced to take back and race towards the rear, the 7-2 second favourite who had annexed the G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot June 18 was delivered by Oisin Murphy to cut down Jim Bolger's G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace S. hero approaching the furlong pole. Brushing that 11-8 favourite aside, she stayed on strongly to score by 1 3/4 lengths, with the same margin back to Alcohol Free's G1 Falmouth S. conqueress Snow Lantern (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in third as the Classic generation dominated. “Alcohol Free is so, so talented and what a thrill I got from that,” Murphy said. “The race really ran from when we turned into the straight and then it was a grind to the line.”

Showing talent from the outset, Alcohol Free raced solely over six furlongs with success in the G1 Cheveley Park S. at Newmarket and a second in Salisbury's G3 Dick Poole Fillies' S. in September to show from a light campaign. Back with a win in the seven-furlong G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury Apr. 18, she was an uncertain stayer heading to the May 2 1000 Guineas at Newmarket and that was still a question mark after she finished fifth there but in the Coronation she emphatically proved her staying power. Forced to make the running when third in the Falmouth at Newmarket July 9, she may have been compromised as much by quicker ground as the tactics and so when the rain came the Kingsclere confidence rose.

Forced out on the track soon after the start as Tilsit (First Defence) made his move forward, Alcohol Free was going to have to do it the hard way as had so often been the case throughout her career. Reined back to race alongside Snow Lantern as the GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Order of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) put the pace to the race kept company by Century Dream (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), she had to surrender first run to Poetic Flare who had been ideally placed tracking that duo. No sooner had Keving Manning forged a narrow lead on the favourite from Century Dream heading to the furlong pole, Alcohol Free was upon him and the result was quickly settled as she swamped him to become the first of her sex to win this since Soviet Song (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) in 2004.

“I knew James Doyle would go forward on Century Dream, but on his own terms and in his own rhythm,” Murphy reflected afterwards. “I knew Tilsit under Kieran Shoemark and Alcohol Free would fight for the same position. Unfortunately, she is 440kgs and Tilsit is probably 500kgs plus. I was never going to win that battle and was happy to come back and trust that Kieran would move at the right time and that I would be able to get out and slip into the race. I can't thank everyone at Park House enough. Alcohol Free really can be a handful in the mornings. Cassia has to deal with her every day and deserves a medal because she can be really tough work.”

Trainer Andrew Balding added, “Oisin was at pains to try and tuck in and get some cover, because she's so much better when you are able to do that and she has got something to aim at. Poetic Flare is a very good horse, but she really did it well in the end. I am sure there were hard-luck stories, but I am sure she was the best horse on the day. It was lovely to see her do that because we have always believed in her. It is no easy task taking on the colts and older horses and to do it in that style was just fantastic.”

“Watching her work is demoralising for the other horses; we have to keep swapping the lead horse because she is just so, so good,” her handler continued. “You see her afterwards and she is hardly blowing–it is effortless really. She has been the victim of bad draws whenever she has run, to be honest. She probably would have won the Dick Poole, and, with a good draw, I think in the Guineas she would have gone close had she been drawn in the middle or to the far side. It was Jeff Smith's idea in the first place, and I don't think it's a bad idea, to put her in the [Aug. 18 G1 Juddmonte] International at York and we decided to keep her in at yesterday's forfeit stage. It might be asking a bit much, going a mile and a quarter, but she's a filly that has won three Group 1 races, so we have very little to lose. If it doesn't work, we'll regroup and go back to the mile race on Champions Day.”

Una Manning said of the runner-up, “Kevin [Manning] said for Poetic Flare that it was the same as France again. The ground just blunted his speed and I would say the wind drying it out has just made the ground tacky. We were always going to turn up here, it was just unfortunate that the rain came. We were game to go and had to give it our best go. Poetic Flare has lost nothing in defeat. He loves his racing, loves his work. He's an easy horse to deal with and to travel. Bringing him over here wasn't going to be any sort of disadvantage to him, even if the ground didn't turn out like he wanted.”

Kevin Manning added “It was the same as in Paris. I was riding Poetic Flare a little bit behind the bridle from a long way down, whereas on good ground he is travelling into his races. I think the ground has just blunted him for speed. It is tacky, holding ground and there is no bounce in it. Poetic Flare has dug very deep and I thought for a few strides when Alcohol Free came by that he would shunt her back. He's won a 2000 Guineas and St James's Palace on good to quick ground. The runs that he hasn't lived up to have both come on soft ground.”

Snow Lantern stayed on from behind once again and jockey Jamie Spencer suggested that a step up in trip could suit. “The pace was only just okay,” he said. “When they quickened at the three, I was caught a little flat-footed, but I hit the line very strong. Further won't be a problem.”

Alcohol Free, who was completing an afternoon group double for her sire after Armor (GB) had taken the Molecomb, is a daughter of Plying (Hard Spun) who also produced the Listed Prix le Fabuleux scorer Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). The second dam is the Listed National S.-placed Nasaieb (Ire) (Fairy King), who is also responsible for the G2 Flying Childers S. and G3 Princess Margaret S. third Kissing Lights (Ire) Machiavellian) and is a half-sister to the G3 Solario S. scorer Raise a Grand (Ire) (Grand Lodge). From the family of the champion juvenile Numbered Account (Buckpasser), Plying's unraced 2-year-old filly Hooked On You (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) was a 130,000gns purchase by Creighton Schwartz Bloodstock at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale and is owned by John and Jess Dance in training with Karl Burke. Her yearling colt by Dandy Man (Ire) was bought by Ballyhane for €80,000 at the Goffs November Foal Sale.

Wednesday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR SUSSEX S.-G1, £1,000,000, Goodwood, 7-28, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:42.83, sf.
1–ALCOHOL FREE (IRE), 123, f, 3, by No Nay Never
1st Dam: Plying, by Hard Spun
2nd Dam: Nasaieb (Ire), by Fairy King
3rd Dam: Atyaaf, by Irish River (Fr)
(€40,000 Wlg '18 GOFNOV). O-J C Smith; B-Churchtown House Stud (IRE); T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £567,100. Lifetime Record: 8-5-1-1, $1,378,006. *1/2 to Alexander James (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), SW-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Poetic Flare (Ire), 126, c, 3, Dawn Approach (Ire)–Maria Lee (Ire), by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). O-Mrs J. S. Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger (IRE). £215,000.
3–Snow Lantern (GB), 123, f, 3, Frankel (GB)–Sky Lantern (Ire), by Red Clubs (Ire). O/B-Rockcliffe Stud (GB); T-Richard Hannon. £107,600.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 3.50, 1.38, 6.00.
Also Ran: Duhail (Ire), Order of Australia (Ire), Space Traveller (GB), Lope Y Fernandez (Ire), Century Dream (Ire), Tilsit. Scratched: Battleground, Chindit (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

The post Big Day For No Nay Never As Alcohol Free Wins The Sussex appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Verified by MonsterInsights