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On Friday he added two more wins to Tuesday's and there could be more to come.
We were lucky to have any racing yesterday as it was all hanging on an inspection at 12.45, but with a bit of judicious moving of rails and stalls it was decided to proceed.
We were glad they did as our roughie Sandrine won the Albany for Balding, jockey David Probert and owner-breeder Kirsten Rausing. Sent off at 18/1 Sandrine finished strongly to hold off Hello You and Oscula. This gave Balding the rare double of the two 2yo 1200m races having won the Coventry on Tuesday with Berkshire Shadow.
The King Edward VII is often described as the "other" Derby given that it is open to geldings.
Alenquer under "Aussie Tom" Marquand, the conqueror of the Derby winner at Sandown, came through and saluted ahead of a brave Tasman Bay trained by Sir Mark Todd with David Probert not quite getting a double. Title was third home and Yibir was a non-runner.
The stewards were busy again after the Commonwealth Cup had seen Dragon Symbol cross the line first, but he was ajudged to have interfered with the progress of Campanelle and the placings were reversed, giving Wesley Ward another Ascot win. Measure of Magic was third and some of the others could be finishing around now.
The Coronation Stakes was Andrew Balding's second win of the day (third of the meet) as Alcohol Free under Oisin Murphy produced a great run to give Jeff Smith's colours another outing in the first place stall. Snow Lantern was the second home and Mother Earth was a game third just a neck away but the winner revelled in the going and was just too strong. Good run from German raider Novemba to finish fourth.
Have to mention the win of Johnny Murtagh's Create Belief in the Sandringham Stakes. Good to see the Murtaghs there and the horse is owned by the Racehorse Club one of whose members is Sophie Beaumont, daughter of our colleague Adrien Beaumont, looking all grown up and gorgeous in the photos. We wish them all good luck with the horse!
The weather is supposed to be much improved on Saturday with the going Soft, heavy in places, and some showers around but hopefully nothing like Friday's deluge.
The first of Saturday's Group races is the G3 Jersey Stakes for 2yo over 1400m. The Queen, who is supposed to be attending, has 2 runners in this both on 11/1 – Light Refrain from William Haggas's yard with Aussie Tom riding and Tactical who is with Andrew Balding with Oisin Murphy riding. Godolphin's Creative Force for Appleby-James Doyle is on 5/1, Mutasaabeq on 6/1 Hills Crowley and the O'Brien runner here is Khartoum on 13/2.
The Hardwicke is G2 over 2400m with 12 runners. Wonderful Tonight is on 7/2 for David Menuesier and William Buick, Albaflora 9/2 for Beckett -James Doyle and our beloved Broome also on that quote for O'Brien-Moore. Haraab is 5/1 for Haggas-Marquand.
The Diamond Jubilee Stakes is G1 over 1200m with 13 runners and Sir Michael Stoute is hoping third time will be lucky as Dream of Dreams has finished second twice now. Ryan Moore has the ride. Nahaar is 4/1 for Haggas-Marquand, Art Power 5/1 for Easterby – Silvestre de Souza and Glen Shiel who beat Art Power at York is on 5/1 with Hollie Doyle riding for Archie Watson.
While it isn't a group race the Wokingham is such an incredible race – a real cavalry charge down the straight 1200m with a field of 26. The field is headed by The Queen's King's Lyn who raced on Tuesday in the King's Stand but this is a better trip for him. He's on 9/2 for Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy. Mark Johnston's Desert Safari is 17/2 with Dettori on board and since this is sharp pin territory we are putting in Tiz Marvellous on 25/1 for Cox-Kirby and 40/1 Fleeting Prince – Hills-Buick.
