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Keane may have had questions to answer in some quarters heading into his first full season as retained rider for the owner/breeders, but he has silenced any doubters now.
Two Group One wins on Blue Bolt, a famous victory on Kalpana in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes and now the richest race ever won at York on a horse who was supposed to only play a supporting role.
With Constitution River fading late after chasing his own pacemaker and Ombudsman supposedly finding the good to soft ground too soft, it was left to Almaqam and Item to fight out a thrilling finish, with Andrew Balding’s three-year-old joining Frankel and Twice Over as Juddmonte-owned winners of the race.
Item is now unbeaten in three at York, and Keane said: “He seems to really love it round here but at no point was I really confident to be honest. I was surprised Ryan (Moore) was as close as he was to the pace – his horse jumped and travelled well whereas I was never really comfortable.
“When William (Buick on Ombudsman) came to me he got in between two horses and that got him going. But he was very gutsy to get back at him (Almaqam). In the last 50 yards I thought I would get Kieran (Shoemark). The one thing he won’t do is stop.
“It is special to win in these colours and it is brilliant that they sponsor it so they get their money back.
“The rain was a negative but it was nothing like Epsom (Derby day) today, that was heavy whereas today was soft and loose and you could get through it.
“Maybe he was struggling early on through it, I was never going well enough to get out.
“When horses came either side I wasn’t quick enough to get out and then when I did get going the gap closed. Once he got out he flew.”
For Balding, just a few weeks on from Kalpana’s win, his dream summer continued, but it never ground to a halt when Item developed a foot problem earlier in the week.
“Everything bar the last 48 hours had gone to plan and when he jogged up fine this morning we were happy. It was unorthodox though as usually our runners come up the night before,” said Balding.
“He was very tough today and Colin did a beautiful job, as ever.
“I thought he was in a bit of a pocket because he’s a big horse, but very wisely Colin got him out and found him some space and he really hit overdrive.”
As for the future, the dust will now be allowed to settle and despite a huge bonus on offer for the winner of this race to follow up in the Japan Cup, Balding was unaware.
“I didn’t know there was a bonus for the Japan Cup, but that’s not my decision,” he said.
“We feel extremely lucky to be sent these horses, there’s any number of trainers that could have done well with them so I’m not saying it’s all down to us but it’s a fantastic ride.
“Juddmonte are the best team to deal with, they really offer great support and wise counsel, and it’s a pleasure to be involved.
“It’s quite something winning a Juddmonte for Juddmonte, my instruction was to keep the money in house and that’s what we’ve done!
“I’ll probably have to get two tattoos now!” he said in reference to a promise he made to his daughter if Kalpana won the King George.
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