Dewhurst Delight for Balding

Kingsclere trainer Andrew Balding landed Europe’s premier juvenile contest – the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes – thanks to the impressive Chaldean at Newmarket on Saturday.

The colt was beaten on his debut at Newbury in June, but got off the mark at the same track a month later and has since won a further three races in succession.

A son of Frankel – who won the Dewhurst in 2010 – Chaldean made a slow start but picked up ground to lead after two furlongs, holding off a late charge to win by a head from the fast-finishing Royal Scotsman and land Balding his first Dewhurst triumph.

Balding said: “We’re delighted, it’s the most important two-year-old race of the year.

“The horse has been really progressive at a decent level and now he’s gone and done it at the top level, naturally we’re really pleased.

“He learnt a lot in his first run, he’s beautifully bred, it’s nice for him to realise his potential and win on the biggest stage.

“Frankie (Dettori) thinks he’s great, and that tells you all you need to know about him.”

Dewhurst success runs in the family, Balding’s father Ian having won the race three times between 1964 and 1989.

“It’s not an easy race to win, it’s the one everyone wants to win and it’s where everyone goes if you’ve got a top class colt,” Balding said.

“It was great to follow in his footsteps and get it done.”

It is Balding’s first season training for the world famous Juddmonte Group, who have now won the Dewhurst five times.

“It’s a real honour, they’ve got a couple of other fantastic horses with us so it's an exciting time,” he said.

“To get a horse like Chaldean in the first draft we’ve had in is fantastic, we’re over the moon.”

Now the two-year-old, who cost 550,000 guineas at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale in 2020, is tipped to challenge in a Guineas race next year.

If he can win one of those – among racing’s richest prizes – Chaldean will be money well spent indeed.