Andrew Balding had a tremendous York Ebor meeting last week with six winners and a further eight hitting the frame, capped off by a Group 1 double for Juddmonte.
Item took his Knavesmire record to three from three after nail-biting success in the Juddmonte International. The son of Frankel won the Dante Stakes on reappearance, prior to bombing out in the Derby. He bounced back to form in the York Stakes, but few envisaged he could replicate that last week.
Billed as a match up between Ombudsman and Constitution River, the race changed immediate complexion with both the initial pacemakers failing to adopt a prominent position. The big two were beaten and it looked as if Almaqam was going to charge clear. But Colin Keane manoeuvred Item out of the pocket to win in the dying strides.
Speaking to Nick Luck on Luck On Sunday via Racing TV, Andrew Balding said regarding future plans: “In my mind, I’d love Item to go to Longchamp if the ground is good. He’s that quality, and would be a major player if the ground wasn’t too soft.
“He’s a horse we’ve always rated and I was pleased with his work leading up to it. If it hadn’t been for the hiccup I’d have been even more hopeful. “Colin was amazing on him, he switched out and really got him rolling. He’s a very talented horse.”
“She is showing more speed this year. And she’s better” – Andrew Balding
Kalpana has taken her form to a new level this year following an excellent performance in the King George. While the ability has evidently always blossomed, there has been the suspicion she’ll always fall short outside of her own sex at the top level.
She allayed any fears of that sentiment at Ascot, beating the 130 rated Calandagan. It wasn’t as comfortable as many thought it would be in the Yorkshire Oaks, beating Sparan Nua a short head. Sugar Island set the pace in front and those in behind had ignored her long enough. She began to come back to the field three furlongs out, as Kalpana advanced under Colin Keane.
She always looked like she’d get there, but had Sparan Nua found trouble, it’s plausible to suggest she would’ve won.
On her target, Andrew Balding said: “This was always the plan, and to then freshen her up for the autumn. I wouldn’t rule out the Champion Stakes, dropping back to a mile and quarter. She is showing more speed this year. And she’s better.
“It’s fantastic to have all these options, which are probably all slightly weather dependent.”