International Horse Profile: Balantina

Scouting Report for Balantina

Two years ago, Donnacha O’Brien sent out Porta Fortuna to finish a close second in this race for an American partnership including Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. Now Balantina brings the team back for another try, and she sports excellent form that ties into Ballydoyle’s vaunted Diamond Necklace. 

But the Porta Fortuna parallel can’t be pushed too far. Porta Fortuna was an O’Brien family homebred acquired after her smart debut for Donnacha, and she developed into a top two-year-old on the way to the Breeders’ Cup. 

Balantina, a €100,000 Arqana August yearling purchase, arrives with Group 3 placings on her resume. Also, unlike Porta Fortuna, who was coming off a Group 1 victory, Balantina has to rebound from an unplaced effort in a Group 2. 

But Balantina is by a stallion whose leading progeny are stateside – Ten Sovereigns, who has sired current Grade 1 winners Zulu Kingdom and Lush Lips. And Balantina’s dam is a half-sister to Bayrir, whose signature win came in the 2012 Secretariat (G1) at old Arlington Park, and to recent Saratoga Oaks (G2) runner-up Evershed. Balantina is herself a half to Baiykara, heroine of the 1 1/2-mile Prix de Royaumont (G3). 

Balantina, therefore, has a pedigree case for improving on the step-up in the trip stateside. But will it happen as soon as Future Stars Friday? 

Favored in her six-furlong debut at the Curragh, Balantina was a slow-starting, green fourth to the useful colt Andab. Donnacha said that the odds were not a gauge of yard confidence (“it certainly wasn’t my money”), and indeed, she figured to come on for the experience. 

Balantina moved forward as promised in a fillies’ maiden over the same track and trip on Irish 1000 Guineas Day. Off at 6-1 as stablemate Cape Sounion was bet down to 7-4 favoritism, Balantina broke better than last time, grabbed the lead, and held sway by a length. 

Cape Sounion completed the exacta (a spot she was accustomed to fill in maidens, including behind Precise). Balantina’s maiden featured a pair of Ballydoyle debutantes who would go on to win Group races, Beautify (third) and Composing (fifth). And Balantina’s time of 1:11.42 was within shouting distance of glamor colt Albert Einstein’s 1:11.08 in the Marble Hill (G3) one race later. 

Balantina advanced to the same Royal Ascot race that Porta Fortuna had won in 2023, the Albany (G3). While she couldn’t emulate her, Balantina outperformed her 40-1 odds in third. Breaking slowly, she worked her way through the field despite wandering a bit. Balantina was a half-length up on fourth-placer Fitzella, the subsequent winner of the Princess Margaret (G3). The Albany winner, Venetian Sun, went on to add the Duchess of Cambridge (G2) and beat Gstaad in the Prix Morny (G1). 

Plans called for Ballantina to make her next start nearer to home in Ireland, but circumstances conspired against her. Donnacha reported that she skipped the Balanchine (G2) after giving herself “a little bang,” and although entered in the Silver Flash (G3), she was withdrawn—a combination of the ground coming up slower and her being “flat.” 

Balantina aimed instead for the Prix Six Perfections (G3) at Deauville, and the step up to seven furlongs nearly made her a stakes winner. Benefitting from her remedial gate practice, Balantina broke sharply, tracked the leader, and edged clear, only to get pipped at the post by then-unbeaten Green Spirit. 

The Six Perfections form is rock-solid. Green Spirit went on to take the Prix d’Aumale (G2) over Narissa, who had been third in the Six Perfections. Most significant of all, however, is that Green Spirit and Narissa filled out the placings behind the exciting Diamond Necklace in the Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) on Arc Day. Back in fifth was Aylin (see Precise and Pacific Mission). 

Operating on the hypothesis that Diamond Necklace might end up ranking as Ballydoyle’s top filly, over Precise, then maybe the collateral form brandished by Balantina can be the key here. Such speculation is premature, centering as it does on future classic hopes, but it does make Balantina look more intriguing. 

Balantina ran well below that level last out when fifth in the Debutante (G2) at the Curragh. While her lackluster effort might be attributed to her coming back 20 days after her tough beat in France, the ground may have been a factor, too. It was officially rated “good,” but the rain was pouring. 

Balantina’s Group 3 placings that link her to Gstaad and Diamond Necklace both came on quick ground, and her beautiful action is just the type to enjoy the firm turf at Del Mar. If she can break on terms with the field, she has upset potential.