Balding’s mixed fortunes
ANDREW Balding had mixed feelings after Saturday’s Investec Derby at Epsom.
The Kingsclere trainer saw his 50/1 shot Khalifa Sat finish runnerup to surprise winner Serpentine.
But his big hope – 5/2 favourite Kameko – had to settle for fourth place.
Balding said: “It was a funny race, but Khalifa Sat ran great, I am thrilled with him.
“And Kameko ran well to a point – [jockey] Oisín Murphy just felt he emptied out a little bit late on.
“Two lovely horses and fair play, they both ran great.
“We have always liked Sat, he is a lovely type.”
Lambourn-based trainer Ed Walker had high hopes of clinching his first Derby triumph with English King (100/30).
But he had to settle for fifth place and said: “The way the race panned out was frustrating, purely and simply.
“I am thrilled with everything – proud as punch of the horse – Frankie [Dettori] did well from a difficult draw.
“I have got no excuses, just a frustrating race. “Obviously, the leader sort of
“But I am proud of the horse, he skipped away early and had that has run great. little bit more than us.
“My first Derby experience; he “This lad is honest as the day has hit the line hard, another 50 is long and I am looking forward yards and he might have been to seeing him over further.” second.” Oisín Murphy said: “I am
Khalifa Sat’s jockey Tom thrilled for Emmet McNamara Marquand said: “We are really [Serpentine’s jockey]. pleased with that for a run. “He has been part of Ballydoyle for a number of years and is a top-class jockey.
“The winner got a very enterprising ride. I wasn’t making any ground late, if anything I was stopping.”
Frankie Dettori added: “I had
Khalifa a good trip. Between the three and one furlong, he couldn’t pick up and then he was doing all he did best work at the end.”
I The Weatherbys Super Sprint will be held behind closed doors at Newbury on Saturday, July 18.
Normally the highlight of the Flat racing season at Newbury, the five-furlong race will feature some of the top sprinters in the country, including in-form Soldierpoy, trained by Tom Clover.
Last year it was won by Betty’s Hope, widden by Silvestre de Sousa.