Our new columnist is gearing up for an exciting season.
Andrew Balding enjoyed Group 1 success last season and is aiming for even more top-level success this season.
Balding has picked his five to follow for the upcoming Flat season
Chaldean, one of the leading 2,000 Guineas contenders, won the Dewhurst at the track last season and is one of flag bearers for the season ahead.
Balding has also nominated these five horses as ones to follow throughout the year.
Balding’s five to follow
ALSAKIB
A very well-bred colt by Kingman who has been pleasing me at home. He ran a lovely race to finish second on debut at Kempton, beaten just half a length by a more experienced rival.
There are Group-class horses all the way through his pedigree. We have high hopes for him.
CLOCHETTE
A lovely filly by No Nay Never who impressed us in two runs last season.
She took a big step forward with an impressive win at Ascot and the form of that race is pretty solid – she has loads of pace.
OLD HARROVIAN
We only ran him once last year and gelded him after he was seventh on his debut at Newmarket.
But he has been in great nick so far this year and has twice won very easily on the all-weather.
He bolted up by 10 lengths at Wolverhampton last time and we have given him an entry in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot.
SAINT GEORGE
He is a lovely colt by Roaring Lion, who only sired one crop before he sadly died young.
We were encouraged by his first two runs, where he showed a bit of inexperience at Kempton and Newcastle.
He battled on really nicely to open his account at Southwell in a decent race and should keep on improving over middle distances this year.
VETIVER
It’s great to have a nice filly from Cheveley Park in the yard and she looks like she is going places.
We were pleased with her two-year-old season, when she was second on debut and won at Beverley.
She was hugely impressive first time out over a mile last month back in East Yorkshire and we hope there is a good deal more to come.
Balding’s column
Playtime is over, the real stuff starts today at Newmarket with the Guineas meeting.
When you have the Dewhurst winner in the yard, you have plenty of time to sit, think and sweat about the big day during those long and dark winter months.
We are very lucky to have a top-notch group of horses this year but, of course, our flag bearer is CHALDEAN.
It’s a big day for him but when he heads off on the horse box to Newmarket we will have done our part. It’s over to Frankie after that.
He has been a legend for the sport and we would love to provide him with a final Guineas winner before he retires at the end of the year.
Chaldean is Balding’s main horse this season
I hope at 4.45 today we have teamed up for Classic success — but our hopes for this season don’t stop with Chaldean.
Nothing would give me greater pleasure than winning the Derby, except if it was for King Power Racing.
The Srivaddhanaprabha family have done so much for the yard, and Vichai’s legacy lives on here and through his son, Top, who is a brilliant man.
I reckon THE FOXES, who won the Royal Lodge last season, has the ability and potential to develop into a Derby contender.
He has everything in his locker — the only question would be if he gets the mile and a half.
We will know where we stand after he runs in the Dante at York on May 18.
It will be a big meeting for us up on the Knavesmire as SEA OF ROSES will tackle the Musidora.
She screams ‘Oaks filly’ to me and we were over the moon with her run in a Group 3 in France the other day when she was closing at the line in second.
We went over budget to get her for 170,000gns at the sales but, thankfully, it looks she could be worth every penny. She is a horse I have a lot of time for.
There are some crack older horses at Park House Stables at the moment, too, including the legend that is COLTRANE.
I was delighted with his comeback win in the Sagaro at Ascot on Wednesday and Oisin was grinning from ear to ear after the race.
He won the Ascot Stakes at the Royal meeting last year but he will have a slightly more prestigious target this time around in the Gold Cup. I’ve never won the race but, in my view, Coltrane will have a favourite’s chance. We love him.
And our fabulous four-year-old SANDRINE is back for another season.
She has been knocking at the door at Group 1 level for the last two years and hopefully we will get the top-level win she deserves this summer.
So here’s to a great 2023 season and I’m excited to have Sun readers along for the ride.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.sportingexcitement.com/horse-racing/the-woman-trainer-with-the-twinkle-of-determination-how-racings-new-star-alice-haynes-wowed-kia-joorabchian/
