Kingsclere contingent set for a busy Ebor week
Andrew Balding is preparing a sizeable team for next week’s Sky Bet Ebor Festival at York, with entries spread across the meeting’s feature Group races and big handicaps. The Kingsclere yard is expected to contest three of the four Group 1s on the card and will also field a number of hopefuls in the major handicaps on the final day.
Top-level targets
At the centre of Balding’s team is Item, a Frankel-colt that has shown a strong affinity for York. Item is on course to contest the Juddmonte International on Wednesday, where he is likely to face established older performers such as Ombudsman and Constitution River in a deep renewal of the race.
Kalpana, winner of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, is being aimed at the Legends Global Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday. Connections are monitoring her preparation ahead of a final decision, with plans dependent on how a scheduled piece of work goes in the days before the race.
Group and pattern race entries
Balding also has a number of older horses pencilled in for pattern races during the meeting. Flora Of Bermuda, a two-time York course winner, is likely for the City of York Stakes on Saturday. The mare has shown form at six and seven furlongs and represents a familiar target for the yard in that race.
Other possible entrants from the stable include Galiyan, a recent Group 2 performer, and Prizeland, who has been campaigned in Listed company. Marvelman remains a candidate for sprint contests if the ground offers some give, while Never So Brave is still viable for alternative targets later in the week.
Juveniles and sprint prospects
From the juvenile ranks, Moonrise is set to be aimed at the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes on Thursday. The filly stepped up to Group company after a Group 3 success at Ascot over six furlongs and the York sprint is seen as a suitable next assignment to test her at a higher level.
Ebor contenders and big-field handicaps
For the headline staying handicap on Saturday, the Sky Bet Ebor, Balding has multiple horses entered. Tarriance — last year’s Sky Bet Melrose winner over the Ebor trip — appears to be his principal candidate for the £500,000 handicap, having been prepared with the race specifically in mind. Further and Fantasy World are also entered as possibilities for the big final-day contest.
The Kingsclere stable has targeted a mixture of pattern races and competitive handicaps across the four days, reflecting a broad programme of entries that aims to capitalise on the meeting’s variety of opportunities.
Festival schedule
- Sky Bet Ebor Festival: Wednesday 19 to Saturday 22 August
- Key races of interest to the Balding yard: Juddmonte International, Yorkshire Oaks, City of York Stakes, Sky Bet Lowther Stakes, Sky Bet Ebor
The team’s final declarations will be confirmed in the days leading up to the meeting as connections finalise plans and assess the going at York.
