Andrew Balding rewrote the ending of this year's summer blockbuster, the £1.5 million Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday. The annual highlight of the Sky Bet Ebor Festival provided box office excitement, but the contest's two lead performers were overshadowed by the supporting cast.
Favourites Outshone
For weeks punters had salivated over the first meeting of defending champion and 5-6 favourite Ombudsman and Aidan O'Brien's best three-year-old the unbeaten French 2,000 Guineas, French Derby and Eclipse Stakes-winning colt Constitution River, 7-4. The bookies could barely split the pair who were expected to duel for the spoils of a race which is annually voted best horse in the world.
But while the Aidan O'Brien-trained Constitution River and Godolphin's Ombudsman, plus their pacemakers, fought their own private battle, they were completely upstaged by two previously lesser lights. While Ryan Moore chose to sit forward on Constitution River, William Buick was anchored at the back on Ombudsman. Moore made the first move on Constitution River in the straight but he was unable to get clear of his rivals and while Ombudsman challenged along the far rail.
Item's Late Charge
Yet they were soon overhauled first by Almaqam who kicked clear into what looked like a winning advantage only to be nailed near the line by Item, trained by Balding for sponsors Juddmonte. Constitution River was third with Ombudsman fourth. It was a remarkable performance by the colt, winning for the third time at York, given he was nearly a doubt for the race.
“It was a 5am decision to get on the box to get here,” said Balding. “At the time of declaration he wasn’t running. They found a little blood blister in his foot but this morning he was a pain-free. Everything bar the last 48 hours had gone to plan and the way he jogged up this morning we were happy it wasn’t going to be an issue. It was an unorthodox preparation because usually our runners come up the night before and he had to leave at the crack of dawn.”
Golden Summer for Balding
Balding is enjoying a golden summer, having claimed the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Kalpana in July. “It’s been amazing,” he went on. “We have been extremely lucky to be sent these horses in the first place. There are probably any number of trainers who would have done well with the horses they’ve been sent. It’s been a fantastic ride. Keep the money in-house. Those were my instructions from the Prince!”
Conditions had changed significantly to when the runners were declared a morning of rain on the Knavesmire. O'Brien said: "The rain got into the ground a little bit but he ran very well. It was his first run back for a while. Ryan ended up maybe getting there a little bit earlier than he wanted then he got a little bit tired. Then he ended up getting beat! Maybe because he did a lot of things not right there could be a bit more to come. The horse that comes here always goes to Leopardstown for the Irish Champion Stakes."
John Gosden, co-trainer of Ombudsman said: "He just didn't like the ground. It's gone on the soft side and that's not his scene. He likes the faster, quicker ground. It played to others, not to him."
