Andrew Balding

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...

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...

Confirming the form of Royal Ascot's G3 Albany S., Kirsten Rausing's Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) was in a dominant mood as she brought up a notable pattern-race double in Friday's G2 Duchess of Cambridge S. at Newmarket. Held up behind a duo racing far side throughout the early stages, the 11-5 favourite moved to the lead approaching the furlong pole and readily drew away to beat Desert Dreamer (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) by 1 3/4 lengths, with the Albany runner-up Hello You (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) half a length back...

Just minutes after losing the argument for keeping the G1 Commonwealth Cup on Dragon Symbol (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), Oisin Murphy was playing Mr bouncebackability as he steered Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) to clear-cut glory in the G1 Coronation S. It will certainly be a Royal Ascot Friday the reigning champion jockey, who has generally been put through the emotional wringer this month, will never forget with such extreme highs and lows all within the space of less than an hour. To add another aside to this tumultuous...

Hailing from the Andrew Balding stable already successful at the Royal meeting with the 2-year-old Berkshire Shadow (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Kirsten Rausing's Kempton winner Sandrine (GB) (Bobby's Kitten) doubled Kingsclere's tally as she mastered both the heavy ground and 14 rivals in Friday's G3 Albany S. Showing stamina as well as speed on her debut over this six-furlong trip on the Polytrack May 19, the homebred raced wide initially behind the leading group. Sent forward by David Probert passing halfway, the 16-1 shot was briefly stopped in her run...

ASCOT,UK—It was a dream that started with the purchase of two relatively inexpensive yearling fillies at the Tattersalls December Yearling Sale of 2013. Berkshire Honey (GB) (Sakhee's Secret {GB}) never raced and Berkshire Beauty (GB) (Aqlaam {GB}) eventually won over a mile at Southwell in January as a 4-year-old. Hardly the stuff of dreams at this stage, but standing in the winner's enclosure on a sundrenched day at Royal Ascot is something quite different.  A little over seven years on from their first foray into the racing world, that's where...

Leaving it late on debut when scoring over an extended five furlongs at Newbury Apr. 16, Berkshire Shadow (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was again one of the last on the scene as he swooped to conquer in Tuesday's G2 Coventry S. First time up, the winner had spotted subsequent TDN Rising Star Gisburn (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) several lengths headstart with his tardy break before showing his class. With the strong tempo in part carved out by Gregory Kaufman's Kaufymaker (Jimmy Creed) and this more suitable trip to aid him, he...

Fifty years on from Mill Reef (Never Bend)'s victory in the Blue Riband at Epsom Downs, 29 horses have stood their ground after the latest scratching stage for the 2021 G1 Cazoo Derby on June 5. G3 Chester Vase scorer Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is doing well ahead of the Blue Riband. His best showing as a juvenile was a third in the G2 Veuve Clicquot Vintage S. and he was fourth in his seasonal opener-the Apr. 13 Listed bet365 Feilden S. at HQ. Andrew Balding, the son of...

Providing a boost to Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) who had beaten him so readily in the Mar. 27 G2 Dubai Gold Cup, Team Valor and Gary Barber's Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) was at the fore with a smooth success in Friday's G2 Yorkshire Cup. Held up in last early by William Buick, last year's G2 Doncaster Cup winner who was making his European return having been fifth at Meydan was moved closer travelling notably strongly as Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) attacked approaching three out. Getting the better...

Bouncing back from a fourth in last month's Listed Feilden S. at Newmarket on seasonal comeback, Ahmad Al Shaikh's Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) dented a number of Classic aspirations with a determined victory in Wednesday's G3 Chester Vase. He had bettered a debut fourth over seven furlongs at Haydock when annexing a hot Newmarket maiden tackling the same trip next time and hit the board contesting Goodwood's July 28 G2 Vintage S. in the last of three juvenile outings. The April-foaled bay was let go at 15-2 and settled...

Trying a seventh furlong for the first time in Sunday's G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury, Jeff Smith's G1 Cheveley Park S. heroine Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) had just enough stamina to see it out and deny the dark horse Statement (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) in a bobber. Held out wide halfway down the field under Oisin Murphy, the 9-4 favourite swooped to the front with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and had to battle as the Martyn Meade trainee joined her soon after. Getting her nose down on the...

Group 1 winner Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) will return in the G3 Fred Darling S. at Newbury on Apr. 17 prior to taking her chance in the G1 English 1000 Guineas on May 2. A winner of the G1 Cheveley Park S. last term, the Andrew Balding trainee has wintered well, but is still in her winter coat. "I'm delighted with her--the only problem is she's still wearing her winter collection at the moment," Balding told Sky Sports Racing. "I'm just hoping the coat starts to shift--which it...