logo
Windlord edges Gala glory in tight Sandown finish

Windlord edges Gala glory in tight Sandown finish

Andrew Balding's charge was a 6-4 favourite dropping down to Listed class and while the front-running Caviar Heights proved a tough nut to crack on his first start since joining William Haggas, Windlord got the better of a final furlong tussle by a nose in the hands of Colin Keane.
Another thriller @Sandownpark 🤯
Caviar Heights was a worthy nemesis, but 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐝 edges to Listed glory in the Gala Stakes @Sandownpark
A quickfire double for @JuddmonteFarms, @ctkjockey and @AndrewBalding2 💥 pic.twitter.com/cNvJh0CsIG
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 4, 2025
Balding said: 'I know Caviar Heights very well because I bought him as a yearling and trained him as a two-year-old and he's very tough so I wasn't convinced we were going to get past him.
'He showed real desire and he's previously been asked to do something (pace-making) that wasn't ideal for him so it's nice for him to win a race in his own right.'
Balding, Keane and Juddmonte were completing a double on the card following Kassaya's comeback victory in the preceding Battaash Handicap
Kassaya (centre) was an impressive winner on her return at Sandown (Nigel French/PA)
A 5-2 market leader on her first appearance since finishing down the field as favourite for the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot last summer, the half-sister to 2000 Guineas hero Chaldean was good value for the winning margin of three-quarters of a length.
'We thought the world of her last year, she was favourite for the Queen Mary and got no run and then picked up an injury after that and it's just taken an age to get her back to the sort of form where we were happy to run her,' Balding added.
'I think she'll come on a bundle for that, it was really encouraging and exciting for the future.'
Balding then teamed up with William Buick to make it three winners on the day via Coltrane (5-2) in the Coral Marathon.
The eight-year-old won the Listed contest back in 2022 and had to dig deep for a repeat, fending off the late challenge of Al Nayyir by a short head, with just half a length back to Real Dream in third.
Coltrane took the Coral Marathon (Nigel French/PA)
Balding said: 'That was thoroughly well deserved. He's been a bit of a star and that has taken his earnings over £1 million.
'He has been the horse of a lifetime really. He loves it here and has loved his racing this year. He was a little but inconsistent last season but has been in great form this year.
'He's not in at Goodwood and I think we will probably wait and look at Doncaster with him now and then his swansong will either be at Ascot or in the Cadran.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

North Coast takes Tyros triumph in style
North Coast takes Tyros triumph in style

North Wales Chronicle

time41 minutes ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

North Coast takes Tyros triumph in style

Joseph O'Brien's charge had been beaten just under three lengths by Flushing Meadows on his debut at the Curragh in June before winning next time out and chasing home Daytona in Listed prize on his latest start. He was sent off a 3-1 chance against the Aidan O'Brien-trained 30-100 market leader Flushing Meadows, who was only just beaten in Group Three company on his most recent start,. Under a positive ride from Dylan Browne McMonagle, North Coast more than had the measure of the favourite, coming home a six-length winner, although Ryan Moore did ease his mount a little in the closing stages. Paddy Power put North Coast in as a 25-1 chance for next year's 2000 Guineas and Derby, with a Group One date likely to be next on the agenda. 'That's probably a good trip for him, a stiff seven furlongs,' said the winning trainer. 'He ran great in Naas and you'd have to be impressed with what he did today. 'I backed him up a bit quick coming here, so we'll probably go straight to the National Stakes now rather than going for the Futurity on the way. That would be my immediate thought. 'He's a smart colt and has an exciting future. 'I was very impressed with his last half-furlong. It looked like it was going to be an eyeballing match down to the line but he really pulled away again.' Composing made virtually all the running to register a comfortable success in the Saudi Cup Silver Flash Stakes. Fifth on debut at the Curragh in May, she broke her maiden back at that track last month, prompting Aidan O'Brien to raise her sights to Group Three level here. Moore was eager to get to the front and allowed to stride on, he dictated the pace aboard the 4-9 favourite and Composing never looked like being caught, eventually pulling three and a quarter lengths clear of the staying-on Skydance. The Wootton Bassett filly was cut to 16-1 from 25s by Paddy Power for both the 1000 Guineas and Oaks next year, with O'Brien rating her a potential Group One challenger later in the campaign. 'We're delighted with her, she's a lovely, straightforward filly,' said O'Brien, who was winning the race for the fourth successive season. 'She won lovely the last day and Ryan loved her. She was very professional. 'She'll go for the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh next and could be a filly for the Moyglare.'

North Coast takes Tyros triumph in style
North Coast takes Tyros triumph in style

Rhyl Journal

timean hour ago

  • Rhyl Journal

North Coast takes Tyros triumph in style

Joseph O'Brien's charge had been beaten just under three lengths by Flushing Meadows on his debut at the Curragh in June before winning next time out and chasing home Daytona in Listed prize on his latest start. He was sent off a 3-1 chance against the Aidan O'Brien-trained 30-100 market leader Flushing Meadows, who was only just beaten in Group Three company on his most recent start,. Under a positive ride from Dylan Browne McMonagle, North Coast more than had the measure of the favourite, coming home a six-length winner, although Ryan Moore did ease his mount a little in the closing stages. Paddy Power put North Coast in as a 25-1 chance for next year's 2000 Guineas and Derby, with a Group One date likely to be next on the agenda. 'That's probably a good trip for him, a stiff seven furlongs,' said the winning trainer. 'He ran great in Naas and you'd have to be impressed with what he did today. 'I backed him up a bit quick coming here, so we'll probably go straight to the National Stakes now rather than going for the Futurity on the way. That would be my immediate thought. 'He's a smart colt and has an exciting future. 'I was very impressed with his last half-furlong. It looked like it was going to be an eyeballing match down to the line but he really pulled away again.' Composing made virtually all the running to register a comfortable success in the Saudi Cup Silver Flash Stakes. Fifth on debut at the Curragh in May, she broke her maiden back at that track last month, prompting Aidan O'Brien to raise her sights to Group Three level here. Moore was eager to get to the front and allowed to stride on, he dictated the pace aboard the 4-9 favourite and Composing never looked like being caught, eventually pulling three and a quarter lengths clear of the staying-on Skydance. The Wootton Bassett filly was cut to 16-1 from 25s by Paddy Power for both the 1000 Guineas and Oaks next year, with O'Brien rating her a potential Group One challenger later in the campaign. 'We're delighted with her, she's a lovely, straightforward filly,' said O'Brien, who was winning the race for the fourth successive season. 'She won lovely the last day and Ryan loved her. She was very professional. 'She'll go for the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh next and could be a filly for the Moyglare.'

North Coast takes Tyros triumph in style
North Coast takes Tyros triumph in style

Leader Live

time2 hours ago

  • Leader Live

North Coast takes Tyros triumph in style

Joseph O'Brien's charge had been beaten just under three lengths by Flushing Meadows on his debut at the Curragh in June before winning next time out and chasing home Daytona in Listed prize on his latest start. He was sent off a 3-1 chance against the Aidan O'Brien-trained 30-100 market leader Flushing Meadows, who was only just beaten in Group Three company on his most recent start,. Under a positive ride from Dylan Browne McMonagle, North Coast more than had the measure of the favourite, coming home a six-length winner, although Ryan Moore did ease his mount a little in the closing stages. Paddy Power put North Coast in as a 25-1 chance for next year's 2000 Guineas and Derby, with a Group One date likely to be next on the agenda. 'That's probably a good trip for him, a stiff seven furlongs,' said the winning trainer. 'He ran great in Naas and you'd have to be impressed with what he did today. 'I backed him up a bit quick coming here, so we'll probably go straight to the National Stakes now rather than going for the Futurity on the way. That would be my immediate thought. 'He's a smart colt and has an exciting future. 'I was very impressed with his last half-furlong. It looked like it was going to be an eyeballing match down to the line but he really pulled away again.' Composing made virtually all the running to register a comfortable success in the Saudi Cup Silver Flash Stakes. Fifth on debut at the Curragh in May, she broke her maiden back at that track last month, prompting Aidan O'Brien to raise her sights to Group Three level here. Moore was eager to get to the front and allowed to stride on, he dictated the pace aboard the 4-9 favourite and Composing never looked like being caught, eventually pulling three and a quarter lengths clear of the staying-on Skydance. The Wootton Bassett filly was cut to 16-1 from 25s by Paddy Power for both the 1000 Guineas and Oaks next year, with O'Brien rating her a potential Group One challenger later in the campaign. 'We're delighted with her, she's a lovely, straightforward filly,' said O'Brien, who was winning the race for the fourth successive season. 'She won lovely the last day and Ryan loved her. She was very professional. 'She'll go for the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh next and could be a filly for the Moyglare.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store