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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Middle Park Next for The Lir Jet

Group winner The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) will resurface in the G1 Middle Park S. at Newmarket on Sept. 26. The Qatar Racing runner was originally slated for a return in the G2 Flyer Childers S. earlier this month, but was a non-runner that day. After winning the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot in June, the colt missed by only a short head in the G2 Prix Robert Papin at Chanitlly in mid-July and was third promoted to second in the Aug. 9 G1 Phoenix S.

“We just felt five furlongs on drying ground wouldn’t necessarily be his thing,” said conditioner Michael Bell. “We had the Middle Park as an alternative and, all being well, we’ll head to Newmarket.

“I’m sure it will be a very good race, but the horse is in very good form and good order, so we’re looking forward to it. Hopefully Newmarket will produce a nice, safe surface for everybody, which I’m sure they will.”

Also making his next start in the Middle Park is undefeated Listed Rose Bowl S. hero Method (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). The colt opened his account with a 4 1/4-length win in a Doncaster novice affair in June prior to his listed win on July 18 for owner Manton Park Racing.

“He’s doing his final bits of prep for that and, at the moment, it’s all systems go for Saturday,” said trainer Martyn Meade. “Everything is going to plan. He’s definitely on course for that. He’s fine and we’re hoping for a big run from him. It’s very exciting and we’d love to win that to make a miserable season a bit better.”

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Her Majesty’s Tactical a Middle Park Candidate

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 colt could also stretch out beyond six furlongs.

“We were disappointed with the result, but his jockey felt that he just struggled on the ground,” said Balding. “We will get him home and regroup, but I’ve not lost faith in the horse. We will get him back on a better surface and try to get him back on track. We didn’t consider pulling him out of the race as we thought he was equipped to deal with most types of ground, but he never looked comfortable on it.

“The Middle Park is a possibility, but there is also a chance we might look to step him up to seven furlongs as well.”

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