Balding harbours Group One dream
Group One races beckon for Dream Eater after he shed his maiden tag in the Samsung £300,000 St Leger 2-Y-O Stakes at Doncaster.
Andrew Balding’s grey is now likely to be pitched against some of the best youngsters in training in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket next month after scoring under Franny Norton.
The 15-2 chance bounded away once in the clear and had a respective length and a quarter and a head to spare over Achilles Of Troy and Copywriter.
Balding said: “That’s a nice way to break your maiden and his work has been improving at home.
“He is in the Mill Reef but that will be too soon as it’s next week, so we will have a look at the Middle Park as he has got plenty of ability.”
A career at stud failed to sit comfortably with Galeota (5-1) but he showed all of his old dash in the Listed Altium Scarbrough Stakes.
The five-year-old was infertile in the breeding sheds so was returned to Richard Hannon 10 weeks ago and has since won two of his four starts.
After the gelding collared Peace Offering for a neck success, Richard Hannon jnr said: “We need to look after him, ground-wise, but we will look at the Diadem or a Group race at Newbury.”
Galeota sparked a 151/2-1 double for Ryan Moore as the in-form rider went on to galvanise Sir Michael Stoute’s Red Gala (7-4 favourite) for a length victory in the Broncroft AHT Handicap.
Four-time St Leger-winning trainer Henry Cecil is a favourite on Town Moor and received a warm welcome after saddling the first winner at the four-day meeting.
Kandahar Run (7-2) shot clear two furlongs out in the Torne Valley Ltd EBF AHT Maiden Stakes before holding Tiger Dream to break his duck at the second time of asking.
Cecil said: “He’s entered in the Racing Post Trophy and the Royal Lodge and we’ll see how we go with him, but he will be a much better horse next year.”
The Warren Place handler came within a whisker of a double in the EBF Carrie Red Fillies’ Nursery Handicap as Crystany’s withering run was denied by the 5-1 favourite Royal Confidence.
Winning trainer Barry Hills said: “She is tough and very hard, and will now head to Scotland (Ayr) for the Firth of Clyde Stakes.”
Successful jockey William Buick also completed a double of his own as Balding’s Buccellati (7-2) got home by a short head in the Unicorn Asset Management AHT Classified Stakes.
Newly Elected (3-1) will soon start a new career in the Far East but took in a trip to Doncaster on the way when landing the the Animal Health Trust Conditions Stakes.
