Andrew Balding

Originally slated to contest the G2 Dante S. next month, Listed Blue Riband Trial winner Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) will instead head straight to the G1 Derby on June 1, trainer Andrew Balding confirmed on Thursday. A winner of a Newmarket maiden at fourth asking in September, the King Power Racing-owned colt ran out a three-quarter length winner of the Epsom pointer on Apr. 23. "We were delighted with his win in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom and the plan now is to go straight for...

It is the G3 Winter Derby, so it must be time for the return from hibernation of the Clarehaven stalwart and late-winter specialist Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Gearing up for his attempt at a fourth consecutive G1 Dubai Turf, the 8-year-old will be reunited with Robert Havlin who has partnered him in the last two editions of this prize formerly staged over 10 furlongs at Lingfield. Now at Southwell with an extra furlong added on, it will represent a different test for the high-class veteran whose probable limit is...

Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never--Plying, by Hard Spun), a four-time Group 1-winning 6-year-old, will be covered by Frankel (GB) and is already back in the Northern Hemisphere, owner Yulong Investments confirmed to the TDN on Wednesday. Bred by Churchtown House Stud, she sold for €40,000 as a Goffs November foal and was originally raced by Jeff Smith of Littleton Stud and trainer Andrew Balding. Successful in the G1 Cheveley Park S. as a juvenile, both the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Sussex S. went her way in 2021. Kept...

The smart G2 Gimcrack S. winner Lake Forest (GB) (No Nay Never) (lot 726) is one of the highlights of the five-day Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale at Park Paddocks in Newmarket from Oct. 23-27. Part of a 1,750-strong catalogue, the juvenile is rated 109 and will be consigned by William Haggas's Somerville Lodge. He currently holds an entry in the G1 Middle Park S. on Sept. 30. Some of the other notable lots include G1 Criterium International victor Proud And Regal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (lot 674) from Coolmore;...

With the ground riding heavy at Newbury, Saturday's G2 Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef S. had the potential to become a war of attrition and ultimately it was Juddmonte's Array (Ire) (No Nay Never--Joyeuse {GB}, by Oasis Dream {GB}) who proved toughest. Off the mark in a Newmarket novice before finishing third in the G3 Sirenia S. over this six-furlong trip at Kempton earlier this month, the Andrew Balding-trained homebred was placed near the fore by Oisin Murphy from the outset. Committed passing two out, the 7-4 favourite was forced...

Mick and Janice Mariscotti's ultra-consistent 6-year-old gelding Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}--Promise Me {Ire}, by Montjeu {Ire}) settled for placings in this term's G1 Gold Cup and G1 Goodwood Cup and exacted revenge on Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Quickthorn (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) with a determined effort in Friday's G2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup at York. Coltrane, a 14-length runner-up in this marathon contest last year, had risen through the staying ranks to notch victories in last term's G2 Doncaster Cup and this term's G3 Sagaro S. and raced...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Insights features TDN Rising Star Arabic Legend.   15.20 Salisbury, Listed, £40,000, 2yo, 8fT ARABIC LEGEND (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) lines up for this Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Stonehenge S. with a reputation to enhance, having earned TDN Rising Star status on his debut at Newmarket's July Festival....

G2 Coventry S. hero Berkshire Shadow (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) has been purchased by Australian Bloodstock and will be trained in Australia by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. The gelding was trained by Andrew Balding for Berkshire Parts & Panels, Ltd. No1 Fanclub. He won the Listed Lady Wulfruna S. in March and the All-Weather Mile Championships Conditions S. this year, and was also third in the G1 Lockinge S. He reported home fifth in the G1 Queen Anne S. and, in his final start on English soil, ran sixth...

Newmarket's Weatherbys British EBF Maiden S. is one of those key races that can uncover a class act and Friday's renewal of the seven-furlong July Festival test may have witnessed another as Arabic Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}--Sheikha Reika {Fr}, by Shamardal) earned a TDN Rising Star tag. Withdrawn from his intended start at Doncaster last month after becoming upset in the stalls, the second foal out of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's GI E.P.Taylor S. heroine was always travelling strongly on the wing with Rob Hornby trying to contain him...

There must be something in the air at Haydock this month as Opulence Thoroughbreds and Teme Valley's newcomer Purosangue (GB) (Aclaim {Ire}--Avon Breeze {GB}, by Avonbridge {GB}) became the second TDN Rising Star on Thursday's evening fixture and the third in the last three meetings at the Merseyside venue. Unleashed by Andrew Balding having brought enough attention at April's Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale to fetch £125,000, the 5-1 shot proved a handful for Ray Dawson going to post and in the early stages before establishing a lead before halfway in...

International bloodstock agent Alastair Donald, who purchased Thursday's G2 Dante S. winner The Foxes  (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) on behalf of the King Power team, is backing the colt to get the Derby trip at Epsom.  The Foxes was cut into a general 8-1 chance for Derby glory after winning the key trial at York for trainer Andrew Balding and the in-form jockey Oisin Murphy.  He hails from a family the connections know well, given the half-brother Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) carried the blue and white silks of King Power with...

There was as much uncertainty as to what would start favourite for Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante S. than what would emerge on top in York's time-honoured Derby trial, but in the end it was one of the benchmark horses The Foxes (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}--Tanaghum {GB}, by Darshaan {GB}) who held the bragging rights. King Power Racing's G2 Royal Lodge S. winner had been undone by Indestructible (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in the G3 Craven S. at Newmarket last month but appreciated this step up to an extended 10...