Andrew Balding's 2YO Talents for 2020 Flat Turf Season

History oozes out of Kingsclere Stables with great trainers like John Porter, Peter Hastings, and the great Ian Balding plying their trade at a top-level for many a decade not to mention top-class horses like Blue Gown, isonomy, Ormonde and not to forget the great Mill Reef all trained on these brilliant grounds. Fast forward to January 2003 when current trainer Andrew Balding took over the reigns and followed in the footsteps of his father Ian with successes such as Elm Park, Passing Glance and Beat The Bank to name just a few who have all come from this impressive place. I’m really looking forward to what the new season brings and trying to find a winner or two along the way. 

The King Power team have been a nice source of winners over the years with a few nice types for Kingsclere Park House Stables especially in 2018 when Happy Power who was a 625,000 gns purchase at the 2017 October yearling sales and won twice as a 2-year-old and then went on to win the Ganton Listed Stakes at York as a 3-year-old. 

That brings me on nicely to a couple of 2-year-olds that could be worth following this season that is also owned by The King Power Racing team. MELODY OF LOVE colt is a full brother to Happy Power and cost 425,000 gns at the tattersalls sales and could be useful. 

My next King Power horse who will be going into the trackers is FOXES TAIL a Zoffany/ Starfish colt, although dam Starfish was unraced her offspring included the talented Kevin Prendergast 109 rated filly La Collina who won the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at two and went onto win another Group 1 as a 4-year-old. 

Fox Chairman was the latest black-type winner for dam Starfish when winning the Listed Steventon Stakes at Newbury last year. Hopefully, the 400,000 gns purchase will be another nice type for the future. 

Next 2-year-olds to go into the trackers are from owners Qatar Racing Limited. Andrew Balding's Kitten’s Joy colt KAMEKO had an amazing season last year when triumphing in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes at Newcastle after taking apart a decent field for the Andrew Balding and Qatar team and should be in for another exciting season this year.

First is MARINE a colt by SEA THE STARS / IGNIS AWAY who cost €400,000 at the Arqana Deauville October Yearlings in 2019. Dam Ignis Away didn’t do much in her career but looks to have a nice offspring in the name of Heart Reef who was also purchased by David Redvers for the same owners at the 2018 Arqana Deauville August Yearlings for €220,000. Heart Reef won the first timeout for trainer Ralph Beckett and contested a Listed event at Newmarket last year. 

My next one is RUSHMORE colt by Lope De Vega / Qushchi who was another expensive purchase at 500,000 gns by purchaser David Redvers Bloodstock. His half-sister is Mrs. Sippy who won a Listed event in France and was trained by David Simcock before moving to America and winning the Group 2 Glen Falls Stakes as a 4-year-old. 

The Queen looks to have a nice horse in the name of King’s Lynn who made his debut at Windsor last August when finishing second. The Andrew Balding-trained Cable Bay colt made no mistake next time out in a Class 2 event at Doncaster and looks a serious prospect this season. Punctuation also looks like a nice prospect for this season after making his debut in a 3-year-old Novice Stakes race at the end of January and running a blinder to finish second. 

Not much to go on here but the Queen has a horse called TACTICAL in training with Andrew Balding this year and it's a roll of the dice to see if the Toronado / Make Fast colt can be a serious horse this season. 

Andrew Balding does love stallion Lope De Vega and with a stud fee of 100,000 euros, I expect this year to be a fair standard like the previous season. The King Power Lope De Vega colt Group One Power did not run as a 2-year-old but with two wins out of two races, this year looks a lovely prospect for the season ahead. Owners PDR Properties have Via De Vega who cost 140,000 gns at the 2018 October yearling sales and made an impressive debut when winning at Sandown last September at 14/1. A Group one in France was a step too far next time but inexperience looked the issue and could have more left to give this season. Arctic Vega was also bought at the same sales this time for 220,000 gns and made no mistake at Kempton this month.

I will be keeping an eye out for a few this season and first off is a 3-year-old colt  called FIESTA DE VEGA by LOPE DE VEGA / PARTY who was bought by Andrew Balding at the Tattersalls sales October 2018 and is owned by PDR Properties. Looks to have a nice pedigree with Dam party winning a Listed race at Newbury in 2006. 

Next up is a couple of unnamed 2-year-olds. The first is a colt named KING VEGA by Lope De Vega / Moi Meme who was purchased by Andrew Balding for 350,000 gns at the Tattersalls last October and one to follow for owners Apollo Racing & DTA Racing. 

My last horse going in the trackers is a colt REGAL VEGA for the same owners. Dam Queen of Powers offspring includes the 108 rated Garrus for the Charlie Hills team and looks another to look forward to this season. Thanks for reading and soon as I get the names I will update this page.