'His work pointed towards the Breeders' Cup' - Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy combine for Grade 1 win with New Century

New Century: followed up his Stonehenge Stakes win in Woodbine

New Century (far side): followed up his Stonehenge Stakes win in WoodbineCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Andrew Balding enjoyed more international success as New Century struck late to land the Grade 1 bet365 Summer Stakes at Woodbine on Saturday.

Ridden by Oisin Murphy, the Qatar Racing-owned juvenile launched a challenge on the run to the line and charged down Dream On and the William Buick-ridden favourite Al Qudra to score by a length and a quarter in the $500,000 contest in Canada.

In doing so, New Century made it three wins from five starts, following up his Listed Stonehenge Stakes success at Salisbury last month and providing his sire, Kameko, with his first top-level victory.

The mile contest was part of the 'win and you're in' series for the Breeders' Cup, and Murphy believes all roads lead to Del Mar in November.

He said: "It’s fantastic for Kameko to have his first Grade 1 winner. He’s had lots of success recently but this is his flagship horse in his first season. It was a 'win and you’re in' for the Breeders’ Cup, so I know Shaikh Fahad [Al Thani] and Andrew will be really looking forward to Del Mar now.

"He’s really sharpened up from run to run and his work is like that at home too. His homework even before the Stonehenge Stakes pointed towards the Breeders’ Cup. He hasn’t missed a beat and, touch wood, that will be the same between now and the Breeders’ Cup."

Balding was celebrating his third top-level success at Woodbine, with Phoenix Reach and Blond Me having been successful in the Canadian International and EP Taylor Stakes, and Murphy added: "He’s amazing at traveling horses. Bellum Justum recently won the valuable Nashville Derby. When Andrew sends them overseas, they don’t miss!"

It proved to be a card of near-misses for Buick and Charlie Appleby as Woodbine Mile favourite Naval Power had to settle for fourth behind the Mark Casse-trained Win For The Money. Last year's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Big Rock, now trained by Maurizio Guarnieri, finished third.

Buick was only eighth of 11 in the Grade 1 Natalma Stakes on 4-5 favourite Mountain Breeze. Frankie Dettori, aboard Annascaul, finished two places ahead in sixth in a race won by the Casse-trained And One More Time.

Murphy finished fourth on French raider Blush in the EP Taylor, with another, Big Rock's stablemate Blue Rose Cen, last of five behind the Kevin Attard-trained Full Count Felicia.

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