Balding hoping to step out of family shadow in St Leger

even though Andrew Balding is already a Classic-winning trainer, he invariably finds himself in the shadow of his sister Clare – the top sports broadcaster – and their father Ian who masterminded the career of equine greats like Mill Reef.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Sep 2013, 09:13 BST

Yet the Ladbrokes St Leger is one of the few major races to elude this racing dynasty and Balding junior is hopeful that Havana Beat can prevail on Saturday in a wide open renewal of this £600,000 race, the final Classic of the 2013 season.

The trainer is bullish. He believes the 33-1 odds do not do adequate justice to Havana Beat who was third to subsequent Epsom Derby winner Ruler Of The World in the Chester Vase.

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The three-year-old was a luckless third behind John Gosden’s St Leger contender Feels Like Dancing in Newmarket’s Bahrain Trophy before finishing last of seven behind Cap O’Rushes in the Neptune Investment Management Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

“He was unlucky in the Bahrain Trophy as he got caught in a pocket and only finished up getting beaten two necks. He stays very well,” said Balding, whose finest hour as a trainer came when Casual Look won the Epsom Oaks a decade ago.

“For whatever reason, he ran badly at Goodwood but he really pleased me with the way he worked on Saturday. If he had won the Bahrain Trophy and was going straight for the Leger he certainly wouldn’t be a 33-1 shot.

“Looking at previous St Legers, it looks like the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot is a pretty good guide and he was a staying-on fifth in that race. He stayed on all the way to the line and there are some clues that suggest he might have a chance.

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“The Ladbrokes St Leger is a race I would love to win. Havana Beat’s owners Mick and Janice Mariscotti have been tremendous supporters of the yard over the last four or five years and hopefully this horse will give them a run for their money.”

In the latest ante-post winning, Ladbrokes named Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Excess Knowledge and Irish raider Galileo Rock as the 100-30 joint favourites after rain significantly softened the going on Town Moor.

However the sponsors believe the conditions could favour Talent after cutting the filly’s odds to 12-1. “If the rain continues to hammer down at Doncaster, then Oaks winner Talent looks certain to be popular in the Ladbrokes St Leger,” said spokesman David Williams.

York’s Juddmonte International winner Declaration Of War features among 19 horses to stand their ground for Sunday’s Qatar Prix du Moulin at Longchamp. The four-year-old was pulled out of last Saturday’s Irish Champion Stakes by Aidan O’Brien because he feared the going was too soft at Leopardstown.