Nabati denies Balding family poignant Mill Reef victory

There were emotional scenes after the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes on an afternoon where Newbury paid tribute to the late Ian Balding, as Kingsclere graduate William Buick and Nabati thwarted Andrew Balding’s Jolivette in a finish fitting of a race named after Park Stables’ most famous resident.

Returning to the track a little over a week after finishing third in the Flying Scotsman Stakes to Balding’s Forbidden Fire at Doncaster, Charlie Appleby’s youngster this time turned the tables on the Kingsclere team as the 7-4 chance successfully dropped back in trip to six furlongs with the narrowest of short-head verdicts.

Michael Dods’ 5-4 favourite and Gimcrack hero Arapaho Gold – who beat Nabati over course and distance in July – also played his part in an excellent finish to the Group Two feature, but the aftermath centred on the Balding family and a winning jockey firmly taken under their wing at the distinguished Hampshire academy.

Buick said: “I was 12 during the first summer holiday I started going to Kingsclere and I have some great memories. When I was watching the videos on the screens before racing of Ian talking about Mill Reef it brings back so many great memories and it’s amazing to have had the time there I did. I was so lucky.

“I woke up this morning and thought this lad is running back a bit quick, but it’s in honour of Ian Balding so I better do my best as he will be watching.

“I hope he would have been pleased to see us both going at it from the furlong post to the line and he would have nodded and said you both did your best. A dead-heat would have been perfect but it’s great to win this race.”

Nabati was giving Appleby and Buick back-to-back Mill Reefs after the triumph of Words Of Truth 12 months ago and Buick added: “He was tough there today, we thought we would ride him a bit more forward today but he came out the stalls a bit awkward and ended up where we were.

“I got him in a nice rhythm and I got after him a little bit earlier than planned and he had to fight, which he did.

“At Doncaster the action unfolded away from us and he probably didn’t have a hard race as a consequence of that, but it was a great call by Charlie and the horse has repaid him.”

Reflecting on the brave effort in defeat from Jolivette in second, Balding said: “I was delighted with the run, she put it all in but just couldn’t quite get the job done. She’s a lovely filly and it’s great to get her Group Two-placed.

“She’s a talented filly and goes on any ground and she’s a bit of a star.

“I’m very grateful for Newbury and Dubai Duty Free for giving dad the honour of having his name attached to this race and it was almost the perfect result, but at least Will won it and he’s a Kingsclere boy.”

While Lady Emma Balding jokingly described the winning jockey as having “no sense of occasion”, Andrew’s sentiments were echoed by his sister, TV presenter Clare Balding, who was among the family members in attendance for the race and assisted with the presentation of the trophy alongside her mother afterwards.

She said: “William started his career with dad and he would only have been a teenager when he came to us and barely five stone.

“Dad thought the world of him and if he was going to be beaten by anyone he would have loved it to have been William, who has gone on to have a great career and is a great guy.

“It’s so lovely to see everyone turn out today for this race and massive thanks go to Dubai Duty Free and Newbury for recognising dad. Obviously Mill Reef was a superstar and you don’t get too many horses like him who the public really latched on to.

“There are plenty of people here who would gasp in awe at the mention of Mill Reef and it was great to see all the old footage of dad talking about the horse today and then see a great race such as the one we’ve just seen.”