Sunday, 3 July 2011
Nice Treble For Andrew balding
Night Carnation is proving to be an outstanding sprinting filly and she tore her rivals apart in the Coral Charge at Sandown to launch a treble for trainer Andrew Balding.
Defeat on soft ground at the track three weeks ago had halted her sequence after two victories, but she was back to her very best in this Group Three contest under Jimmy Fortune.
She was still travelling strongly as they approached the closing stages and surged past Beyond Desire with one of the five furlongs remaining to collect by a length and three-quarters.
Balding said of the 11-2 shot: "She's a very good filly. She was undone by the draw last time, but that was impressive. She'll have a summer break now as she's not in at Goodwood or the Nunthorpe, and we'll work back from the Prix de l'Abbaye."
The Kingsclere handler made it two out of two when Highland Knight was rewarded for a string of consistent efforts in the Coral Challenge.
Unlike many, including the runner-up and favourite Start Right, Highland Knight (10-1) and David Probert were safe from trouble at the head of the field and went on to collect by a length and three-quarters.
The trainer said: "He has run a couple of stormers this year and has been getting better with every run. I can't remember if I put him in the totesport Mile at Goodwood. He could go for something like the Shergar Cup."
Balding went on to complete his fantastic hat-trick as Chiberta King (6-1) just edged Aaim To Prosper in the Coral Marathon .
The pair quickened up past Electrolyser in the final furlong of the the two-mile contest and there was little to choose between them as the post loomed large, but Fortune was typically strong on Chiberta King and the duo just got the better of the argument by a nose.
Balding said: "It's just been a lucky day. This horse thoroughly deserved to win a good race and he's just got his confidence back. I'm not sure if that would qualify him for the Melbourne Cup, but one of his owners is Australian and he'd love to see him running there. He's the right sort of horse for it."