No Nay Never Colt Captures Mill Reef Stakes

Array (2c No Nay Never - Joyeuse, by Oasis Dream) enhanced No Nay Never’s impressive record with juveniles when justifying favouritism in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury.

Andrew Balding’s charge finished second to subsequent Group performers on his first two starts before drawing clear at Newmarket, and was last seen finishing third in the Group 3 Sirenia Stakes. Reunited with Oisin Murphy on Saturday, he chased the leader for much of the way and led from two furlongs out. Challenged inside the final furlong, he ran on strongly under pressure to win by half a length.

Saturday marked a first win in the race for Andrew Balding, who later explained the significance, “My sister and I were educated off the back of Mill Reef so we owe him a lot. It's lovely to win the race named after him. It's a race we always try to find something good enough to have a go at and to do it with a horse who has as big a future as him is really exciting.

On future plans, Balding mused, “It's not impossible that he'd get a mile next year. He was very tough today and I see no reason why he wouldn't be even better next year.”

The Dewhurst Stakes is the likely next target for Array, who has now shortened in price for the 2,000 Guineas. Owned and bred by Juddmonte Farms, he becomes No Nay Never’s seventh Stakes-winning juvenile of the season so far.