Chaldean: The Next Big Thing in Horse Racing
Juddmonte, the Saudi-owned horse racing operation, has been a dominant force in the sport for over four decades. Its founder, Prince Khalid bin Abdullah, tasted success at Royal Ascot in 1979 with Abeer winning the Queen Mary Stakes. Now, more than 40 years later, Juddmonte is hoping to continue its winning streak with Chaldean, a three-year-old colt trained by Andrew Balding.
Chaldean is one of the heavily fancied charges in Tuesday’s St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May and has been training well, according to Balding. The trainer said that his job has been about trying to temper expectations after recent success.
“He’s been very well. Most of the horses that ran Guineas weekend had hard races, so we were never inclined to run him back any sooner than Ascot,” he said. “(Chaldean) had a quiet two weeks and seemed to freshen up well, and built up nicely back to full fitness; this week’s gallops should put him spot on.”
Balding added that expectations are high with a Dewhurst and Guineas winner. However, he emphasized that it’s Royal Ascot, a Group 1, and you can never take anything for granted. If Chaldean brings his A game, he’ll have a great chance.
Juddmonte’s Importance in Horse Racing
Juddmonte is considered one of the most important owner-breeder operations in the world in terms of their level of success. The operation has the most amazing families as breeders, according to Balding. They put a lot of thought and work into the breeding operation, and they are very well raised, which makes half the job easier for trainers.
“No trainer can make a champion out of nothing, but if you give them a chance with the families, it makes it a lot easier,” Balding said.
Juddmonte’s success is hugely important for racing worldwide. The operation has carried on with what Prince Khalid started with such enthusiasm and commitment to the sport. This is a huge relief from everyone in the industry, according to Balding.
Royal Ascot’s International Appeal
Royal Ascot has become a focal point of summer for racing people in Europe and far beyond that. The meeting has huge relevance not just to racing people in Europe, but also to people attending from far and wide. The increased international appeal of Royal Ascot makes success at the meeting hugely important, according to Balding.
Chaldean’s Potential
Chaldean has the potential to be the next big thing in horse racing. He has jumped through every hoop since his debut, and he is a Dewhurst and Guineas winner. He has only had one blip, which is no fault of his own since his debut. If he brings his A game, he’ll have a great chance at Royal Ascot.
Conclusion
Juddmonte’s success in horse racing is a result of its commitment to breeding and training top-class horses. Chaldean is one of the heavily fancied charges in Tuesday’s St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He has the potential to be the next big thing in horse racing, and his success at Royal Ascot would be hugely important for Juddmonte and the industry as a whole.