Balmont Becomes Second SW for Stravinsky in Gimcrack

Balmont, a member of Stravinsky's first crop, won the Scottish Equitable Gimcrack Stakes (Eng-II) by a head over Fokine at York Wednesday. Balmont is the second stakes winner to represent his sire. The first was Venables, who on July 19 won the Shadwell Stud Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury.

Balmont races for his breeder, Sanford Robertson, who bred the colt in Kentucky. Balmont led in the early going, was shaken up on the backstretch but kept running, then regained the lead with about 100 yards to the finish. Fokine headed him briefly in the homestretch, but Balmont fought back in the final strides to win. Grand Reward (Storm Cat--Serena's Song) was third. Fokine races for Robert Sangster and Grand Reward runs in Michael Tabor's colors.

Jeremy Noseda trains Balmont. The 2-year-old made his first start in June at Newmarket and finished second, 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner. In July he broke his maiden by three lengths in a six-furlong test at Doncaster. In his last race prior to the Gimcrack, he returned to Newmarket and again won at six furlongs, this time by an impressive 12-length margin. That was on July 25.

Balmont is the first foal from the Seattle Slew mare Aldebaran Light.