ANDREW Balding has come close to emulating his father with a Derby Italiano win twice before, finishing second with Royal Supremacy in 2024 and third with Relentless Voyager in 2023, and made the breakthrough with Venetian Prince in the 143rd running of the race on Monday.

Ian Balding landed the 1981 running with Paul Mellon’s home-bred Mill Reef colt Glint Of Gold, while Venetian Prince represented another owner/breeder in Jeff Smith of Littleton Stud.