In his exclusive chat with BOYLE Sports , Andrew Balding reveals his passion for Southampton FC and admits he'd struggle to choose between promotion for the club and a Classic winner this season.
The Kingsclere trainer also gives his honest assessment of where British racing stands, why he remains optimistic about the sport's future despite the headwinds, and what a Group 1 success would mean to him.
Balding rounds off a wide-ranging interview by naming the one race above all others he'd love to win, and explaining why any British Group 1 would do just fine.
Southampton FC
Supporting Southampton
Yes, an avid fan. I have had a season ticket there for many years. My wife Anna Lisa reminds me that on one of our first dates, I took her to a game.
My father was a director there. It was a shame we did not get automatic promotion, but maybe the season caught up with us. I was at Wembley for the FA Cup semi-final, and I really thought we were going to win.
We've got Boro in the play-offs. It's nerve-wracking. They won't be easy, although their recent form hasn't been great. I would love us to be promoted. I think we have a young, talented squad, and we can do it. I will go as much as I can, and no doubt will be at the play-off final if we make it.
Promotion vs Classic Win
That's a tough one. My kids would probably take promotion, and I would love for us to go up. But a Classic is what you are in this game for, and that's what my heart says.
Two-Year-Olds
Catching The Eye
The two-year-olds, we're just getting going with now. As a group, they look like a very nice group stacked with potential.
But it's still early days, and we're probably about three weeks behind where we'd normally be for whatever reason. We've just had to give them a little bit more time, but I think just as a group they are very nice.
Actually, I think there's an obvious one — our first two-year-old runner, a horse called The Dancing Pirate .
He was favourite at Newmarket but could only finish fourth. To be honest with you, he ran as well as any of my two-year-olds first time out in a very strong race, which was strongly run. We were thrilled with him, and I think he'll take a good step forward and could be a very smart horse going forward.
Racing's Future
Overcoming Challenges
There are challenges, obviously. But we have such an amazing product; you've got to be optimistic.
My Biggest Goal
I think any British Group 1 race is special. Whether it be a July Cup , a Sussex Stakes , a Lockinge , a Queen Anne , it wouldn't matter. There aren't many of them, and they're very difficult to win.
Staying Driven
We have such an amazing product. The challenges are there, but when you see a horse like Jonquil line up at Newbury or Item head to the Dante , you're reminded why you're in this game. The highs are very hard to replicate.
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