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 a benefit for him to have had a jockey on board and have a proper race,” he said.
“At the same time, it wasn't totally lost as he had to go through the preliminary tests of saddling, walking around the paddock and cantering down to the start, which are the extras that go with a run and not just a gallop at home. Thankfully he didn't go and do another circuit loose. He was fairly sensible.
“I couldn't be happier with him at the moment and Frankie rode him on Saturday and he worked extremely well. It was a very solid piece and his fitness levels are as good as we could hope for in the circumstances.”
Chaldean won the G3 Acomb S., G2 Champagne S., and G1 Dewhurst S. in succession as a juvenile. The Craven was his 3-year-old bow. Dettori, who has won the Guineas three times, will be aboard on Saturday, and the duo face a stiff challenge, especially from Ireland, in the form of the Coolmore partners' Group 1 winners Little Big Bear (Ire) (No Nay Never) and Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
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