Balducci

Balducci put in a good performance to chase Oasis Dancer home in what looked like a strong three-year-old one-mile handicap at Newmarket on Saturday.

Weak in the market beforehand, the Andrew Balding-trained colt tracked the early near-side leader Kona Coast, going well, and picked up nicely at the two-furlong pole to pass that rival. However, by that stage Oasis Dancer had three lengths on him in the middle of the track and, while he couldn’t match the winner’s strength in the finish, he did stay on nicely on the near side to retain second spot. It was an encouraging performance, the winner could be very good and there were some progressive types behind, including Hypnotized, winner of his previous two starts, and Karaka Jack, second to the potentially top class Fallen Idol on his previous run in the Esher Cup. Winner of his maiden at Newmarket just last month, Balducci should come on appreciably for this, just his fourth ever run.

The handicapper raised him 3lb for this, but his new mark of 84 could be well beneath his potential.

1st May 2010