Balding warms up for Derby with Italian Classic success

Andrew Balding enjoyed the perfect appetiser to Item’s quest for Betfred Derby glory on Saturday when Venetian Prince stormed home to claim the 143rd Derby Italiano under Jason Watson.

Owned by longstanding Kingsclere patron Jeff Smith and out of the owner’s Group One winner Arabian Queen, the son of St Mark’s Basilica was last seen finishing down the field in the Betfred 2000 Guineas, but thrived upped in distance to win a race Balding has finished second with Royal Supremacy (2024) and third with Relentless Voyager (2023) in recent years.

San Siro success sees Balding emulate his late father Ian Balding, who landed the Italian Derby with Glint Of Gold in 1981, and could prove a good omen ahead of trying to further replicate his father’s famous Epsom triumph with Mill Reef with his unbeaten Dante hero Item.

Balding said: “I’m delighted and I’m really pleased for everyone involved.

“He’s a decent horse and we were a bit worried about the trip and the ground, but he handled the ground and stayed the trip well. Hopefully he’s exciting.

“It’s a race we’ve always wanted to win. Dad won it in 1981, which is a long time ago now, and we’ve had a couple of near misses, so it’s nice to add it to the CV.

“It’s always nice when Jeff’s colours win big races and the prize-money is amazing so it’s a great result.”

With victory in Milan secured, Balding can now look ahead to the weekend where Item will bid to add to the Epsom Classic success he secured in the Oaks with Casual Look in 2003.

The son of Frankel will be a 15th runner in the mile-and-a-half feature. He has twice finished second with Khalifa Sat (2020) and Hoo Ya Mal (2022), with the trainer unconcerned about the band of wet weather that has hit the Surrey Downs and could continue over the coming days.

“It would be nice if there is another Derby we can run well in this week and that will be a different race all together, but this is very nice,” continued Balding.

“I’m very pleased with Item and I’m just hoping the next few days go smoothly, but we’re all set.

“I’ve no worries about the rain and it’s not going to be heavy and like autumn heavy ground, if they get more rain then so be it, it is what it is.

“He goes there having done nothing wrong so far.”