Kingsclere trainer confident ahead of first ‘big day’ of the season
THE summer starts here for Andrew Balding as he sends out See The Fire in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Sunday.
Kingsclere-based trainer Balding has made an impressive start to the Flat season, with 37 winners already.
But he said: “This is our first big week of the year and we feel like it is the start of summer.
“It is all about the big days - and this is the first of them.
“We have just one runner in the 1,000 Guineas - See The Fire - and we rate her very highly.
“It is likely to be a big field and there will be a bit of luck involved and we need a good draw.
“But she certainly has the ability.”
“She raced three times last year with one win, one second and one third.
“She is in with a great chance, she is a beautifully bred filly and she will improve.
“But the beauty of this race over the 240 or 250 years it has been run is that you can’t predict what will happen - there is always a horse that will improve from last year and turn the race on its head.”
See The Fire won on her first outing of 2023 in the Maiden Fillies Stakes.
She then finished second to Darnation in the May Hill Stakes before finishing third behind Ylang Ylang and Shuwari in the Fillies Mile.
Ylang Ylang, trained by Aiden O’Brien, is likely to be one of her main threats again.
Balding has been delighted with Park House Stables start to the season.
He said: “We have got a big team now and we are currently at the top of the prize money rankings, but there is a long way to go.”
Balding also has high hopes for Bellum Justum, who won the Listed Betfred Blue Riband Trial at Epsom Downs on Saturday.
Ridden by Oisin Murphy, the son of 2009 Derby hero Sea The Stars passed favourite Chief Little Rock entering the final quarter mile.
And the King Power Racing-owned colt held off the late challenge of Defiance to win by three-quarters of a length.
It was Balding’s third victory in the 10-furlong contest and Bellum Justum is now a 25-1 shot for the Betfred Derby at Epsom on Saturday, June 1.
