Andrew Balding admits 'relief' in strong start after Berlin Tango Kempton victory
Much like the first cuckoo, the first Classic trial is usually a harbinger of spring but with mid-summer’s day only three weeks’ away and the Investec Derby, which is normally run on the first Saturday in June running a month late this year, they come thick and fast over the next fortnight.
Of course Kempton’s sharp, right-handed all-weather surface which is dead level could not be more different from Epsom; turf, uphill, down dale, left-handed, clearly created before the theodolite was invented, bonkers place for a racecourse.
There was one similarity with the conventional trials of normal years, however, and that was that quite a few swans turned out to be geese.
But the winner, Berlin Tango, proved to be the goose which turned out to be a swan quickening well to beat the 40-1 shot Pyledriver by a length and three quarters with Bright Melody third and the heavily-backed 15-8 favourite Hypothetical fourth.
Born With Pride, using it as an Oaks trial, missed the break, probably found it sharp enough but stayed on up the straight for fifth without really enhancing her Epsom credentials.
Andrew Balding has his horses in fine form for the start of the season and as much as anything Berlin Tango’s win flagged up the chances of Kameko in Saturday’s Qipco 2,000 Guineas.
But, although it was three months ago, he was one of the few to have had a run this season and he was vastly more experienced than most of his rivals. Though it took David Probert a long time to pull him up there also has to be a slight doubt about his stamina for Epsom for which he earned a quote of 33-1.
Normally the cost of supplementary entry would rule him out having not been entered in it but this year it is a six-day entry and will not cost him a penny more than any other runner. Given that the American Strawbridge is a sporting anglophile, he might fancy a crack at it.
“He ran well in the Kentucky Derby Trial at Kempton before lockdown but needed it,” explained Balding. “He ran well in a couple of Listed races last year when he was still a bit raw. David seemed to think he would stay further. It’s an unusual year, I’ll discuss his options with Mr Strawbridge and we’d look at something at Ascot. We’ll see what happens in the other trials.
“It’s always a relief to start the season well. You never quite know but the general fitness levels and well-being seem to be. Kameko just sat upsides another horse this morning. He looks in good nick and should get there in good form bar any mishaps before Saturday.”
At Yarmouth, Mike Bell’s The Lir Jet, purchased only a month ago having been prepared for the breeze-up sales which did not take place, looked well named and, even though he was not on the list of Ascot two-year-olds nominated by trainers to make sure they get an early run if demand exceeds supply, he will now head for the Norfolk Stakes after winning by two and three quarter lengths.
John Gosden, the Champion trainer, made his first appearance on a racecourse since racing restarted on Monday at Yarmouth. After saddling a double courtesy of Celestran and Haqeeqy, he praised the measure put in place to get the sport on again.
