Yearling purchase Balantina brilliant in Breeders’ Cup success

Balantina, an Arqana August yearling purchase on behalf of current connections, ran out the brilliant winner of the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf for Donnacha O’Brien at Del Mar on Friday.

Sporting the colours of Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Lissa Ann McNulty, the Ten Sovereigns filly saved ground on the inner before showing an electric turn of foot to shoot through a gap under Oisin Murphy and win easily from Pacific Mission.

“She took to the track very well,” said Oisin Murphy. “Donnacha was very upbeat the way she trained in the mornings, and she’s incredibly athletic. She handled the track like it was made for her.”

“Oisin was majestic on her,” said Donnacha O’Brien, celebrating his first Breeders’ Cup success. “She was slow away, but he brought her to the inside straight away. The pace was hot, and I saw we had a chance as he took all the chances down the rail.”

Balantina has mixed it with the best throughout this season since breaking her maiden at the Curragh in May, with a third in the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and short head second in the Group 3 Prix Six Perfections preceding Friday’s success.

“Our goal every year, or my goal every year, is to make it to the Breeders’ Cup with a 2-year-old,” said co-owner Steve Weston. “I believe that we are better off, the Americans, buying our horses and leaving them in Europe for a time and letting them grow; having the advantage to compete against possibly the best turf horses in the world. There’s no reason to rush them to the States.

“If they’re able to compete in group conditions, they should stay. We didn’t feel right now Balantina was at that highest level. We thought maybe we’ll bring her to the States and maybe we could be fortunate enough to see if Breeders’ Cup will let us in.”

Bred by Summerhill, Lynch Bages and S Murphy, the filly was purchased by Avenue Bloodstock alongside Parkland and Bawnmore for €100,000 as an Arqana August yearling from Camas Park Stud. She now boasts close to $600,000 in earnings.

Balantina is particularly well related as a half-sister to Group 3 winner Baiykara out of the winning Balankiyla, a Montjeu half-sister to Group 1 winner Bayrir.

Also at the Breeders’ Cup, North Coast ran a terrific race to finish third in the Juvenile Turf. Bred by Ringfort Stud, the Starman colt is out of Avenue Bloodstock mare purchase La Australiana.

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