Jeff Smith

One race after breaking his duck for the 2026 Royal Ascot meeting, James Doyle was riding the wave again as Jeff Smith's Generic (Kameko) brought up a quickfire double in the G3 Hampton Court Stakes. Last seen finishing seven lengths adrift of Constitution River in Chester's Dee Stakes, the Andrew Balding-trained homebred stayed on best in a strongly-run renewal to deny Ballydoyle's 11-8 favourite Endorsement (Wootton Bassett) by a length at 18-1. The Hugo Palmer-trained Glacius (Too Darn Hot) was a head further back in third. "There was a bit of a...

Forty-five years on from the success of the Ian Balding-trained Glint Of Gold in the Paul Mellon silks forever synonymous with Mill Reef, Andrew Balding emulated his late father at Milan's San Siro Racetrack on Tuesday as the blue-blooded Venetian Prince (St Mark's Basilica) emerged victorious in a pulsating finish to the G2 143rd Derby Italiano. German challenger Salitos (In Swoop) and last month's G3 Premio Parioli (Italian 2,000 Guineas) hero Grand Son Of Dark (Dark Angel), bidding to keep the prize on home soil, looked to have the race...

Making history on York's Knavesmire on Thursday, Jeff Smith's See The Fire (Sea The Stars) became the first to win the G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes for a second time. Always travelling with menace stalking the multiple Group 1 winner Fallen Angel (Too Darn Hot), the Andrew Balding-trained homebred was let loose by Oisin Murphy approaching two out and held Red Letter (Frankel) at bay to score by 3/4 of a length. Diamond Rain (Shamardal) was a further 1 1/4 lengths away in third. "It was so tactical, we went really,...

Ian Balding, who has died at the age of 87, made an indelible impression on the turf, not only as the trainer of some wonderful horses including Mill Reef, but also as mentor to many young people who subsequently graduated to success in the sport. Most notable is his son Andrew, who succeeded him at the helm of Kingsclere in 2002 and who has subsequently ensured that Kingsclere remains synonymous with both success and class. Ian Balding and his elder brother Toby were born in the USA where their father...

High-class performer Ghostwriter (Invincible Spirit), who holds obvious claims in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, led the way at the Goffs London Sale on Monday when selling to Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing for £2 million.  A three-time winner - including at Group 2 level - for trainer Clive Cox and owner Jeff Smith, Ghostwriter twice hit the frame behind City Of Troy last year in the Coral-Eclipse and Juddmonte International.  Joorabchian held off the attention of American owner John Stewart as underbidder. And, while he was standing beside...

   Sent off the 8-11 favourite for Thursday's G2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies' Stakes at York, Jeff Smith's See The Fire was in a class of her own at the end to fully justify the support. Always travelling with menace under Oisin Murphy, last year's G3 Strensall Stakes winner and G1 Nassau Stakes and G1 Sun Chariot Stakes-placed daughter of Sea The Stars moved through tiring rivals to take command two out.    Benefitting from the strong pace set by Doha, the homebred was able to stay more...

Ballydoyle's Derby-winning TDN Rising Star City Of Troy (Justify) will face seven rivals in Saturday's G1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown following Thursday morning's confirmation stage. While the self-titled "clash of the generations" is missing key representation among the older brigade after it was announced that White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) would be missing from the line-up, the four other 3-year-olds preparing to take on the long odds-on favourite include Jeff Smith's smart Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and trainer Clive Cox is hopeful of a bold show. "I think we are all realistic...

Owner Jeff Smith has his eyes fixed on a breakthrough Classic victory and could have his strongest hand yet with Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) on course for the 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas respectively.  First up for his shot at Classic honours is the Clive Cox-trained Ghostwriter, who was unbeaten during his two-year-old campaign, finishing off by dazzling over the Guineas track and trip when claiming the Royal Lodge S. That kind of profile has Smith excited for when his son...

"I was speechless," says David Bowe of being presented with this year's Wild Geese Award at the ITBA's National Breeding and Racing Awards on Sunday night.  The award recognises Irish men and women who have forged successful careers in the bloodstock industry worldwide, and its recipients to date have included those working in Australia and America. Bowe didn't fly too far afield, though he did serve a stint in the States early in his career. For more than a quarter of a century he has been based just across the...

Jeff Smith's unbeaten G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. winner Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is pleasing trainer Clive Cox in his early preparation towards a potential start in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas back at the Rowley Mile. "He's done really well, he had a super break and he's been back cantering for three or four weeks," Cox said. "We're thrilled with the way he's developed over the winter, he's looking even stronger. "We were delighted with the campaign we enjoyed with him last year and we're all looking forward to...

Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never--Plying, by Hard Spun), a four-time Group 1-winning 6-year-old, will be covered by Frankel (GB) and is already back in the Northern Hemisphere, owner Yulong Investments confirmed to the TDN on Wednesday. Bred by Churchtown House Stud, she sold for €40,000 as a Goffs November foal and was originally raced by Jeff Smith of Littleton Stud and trainer Andrew Balding. Successful in the G1 Cheveley Park S. as a juvenile, both the G1 Coronation S. and G1 Sussex S. went her way in 2021. Kept...

Unbeaten entering Saturday's G2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge S. at Newmarket but untried in black-type company, Jeff Smith's Ghostwriter (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) came through the test with flying colours to count himself among the 2024 Classic contenders. Always travelling easily in the wake of Ballydoyle's front-running G2 Champions Juvenile S. runner-up Capulet (Justify), the 100-30 second favourite who hails from the Juddmonte family of a former giant to master this Rowley Mile in Zafonic took the measure of that 7-4 favourite when sweeping to the fore two out. Pushed out...