Absolutely So thrives in the Haydock mud to land another group race success for Andrew Balding
Kingsclere trainer Andrew Balding will be wondering if he should permanently stay away from race days after missing another big winner, this time at Haydock as Absolutely So held on from Jallota to win the Group Three John of Gaunt Stakes.
ABSOLUTELY SO out-battled Jalotta to land the Group Three Betway John of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock in a tight finish.
The Andrew Balding-trained seven-year-old, who was third in this race in 2015, revelled in the rain-softened conditions to hold on from the Charlie Hills-trained Jalotta, with David O'Meara's So Beloved back in third.
That Is The Spirit set the pace alone on the far side of the straight but, as the remainder of the field picked him off with a furlong to go, Absolutely So stayed on best to give jockey David Probert a double on the day.
Probert said: "He's such a tough character, he doesn't know how to run a bad race.
"The ground probably helped him and he knuckled down well.
"He's had his issues and it's a good training performance."
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Balding has now missed his three biggest winners of the season having been absent at Chester when Montaly claimed the Chester Cup and Blond Me won the Middleton Stakes at York.
His wife, Anna Lisa, said: "David really did give him a lovely ride and I'm so pleased for the owners, the Smith family, they've been very patient as he's not been that straightforward with a few niggles.
"It's brilliant seeing him win a nice race, it's just reward for them.
"Even though he's now six he's shown he's as good as ever.
"We'll make a plan when we see how he comes out of this."
Bateel was a comfortable winner of the Group Three Betway Pinnacle Stakes for French trainer Francis-Henry Graffard and Haydock specialist Richard Kingscote. The five-year-old mare remains unbeaten on soft ground, with the Group One Fillies' and Mares Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot in October now stated as a target.