Century seeking to break New ground for Balding

PA Sport Reporters
October 17, 2024 4:57 pm

Trainer hunting first Breeders’ Cup winner at Del Mar.

New Century is all set to bid for glory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar early next month.

Already a Grade One winner in Canada where he landed the Summer Stakes at Woodbine, the Kameko colt is aiming to break new ground for his trainer.

So far Andrew Balding has not sent out a winner at the Breeders’ Cup, but he feels New Century gives him a great chance.

“He’s got a great constitution and has taken everything in his stride. From travelling to Canada and winning, to preparing now for the Breeders’ Cup. He’s been flying at home since he arrived back from Canada,” said Balding.

While he may be impressing connections at home now, that has not always been the case.

“When he first came into training, I wasn’t wowed by him until his fifth or sixth piece of work. He’s a horse that learns and improves, and he’s turned into a fantastic competitor,” Balding said.

“It’s probably not the ideal track for him, but this is the Breeders’ Cup – a $1million Grade One – and we’re going for it. We’ll need a bit of luck with the draw, but he’s taken international travel in his stride.”

His jockey Oisin Murphy is also looking forward to it and aiming to add to his sole victory at the meeting on Marche Lorraine in 2021.

“New Century is compact and has a great mind,” said Murphy. “He’s not as big as his sire Kameko, but his mentality is spot on. He’s improving with every run this season. It’s great to have a leading chance and I hope he can give me my second Breeders’ Cup victory.”