Berkshire based trainer Marcus Tregoning made the cross country trip to Folkestone a rewarding one when he saddled Konstantin to win the Gurkha Cup (1400m) on Sunday.

Konstantin (4g Balmont – Manuka Magic by Key Of Luck) bounced back to form to overhaul the favourite Maverik to score by a neck.  He had won at Leicester, Brighton and Epsom last year but had been struggling in higher grades during his most recent outings at Epsom and Newmarket.

Konstantin shouldered 58kg to confirm he is open to further improvement at Folkestone.  He also improved Tregoning’s strike-rate to 4 winners from 12 starters so far this month.

Tregoning trains Konstantin for Lady Tennant and he was a 115,000gns buy at the 2009 Tattersalls October yearling sale.  Tregoning also prepared Royal Ascot G3 winner High Accolade (Mark Of Esteem) for Lady Tennant back in 2003.

Konstantin is the latest feature winner for Lynward Park’s Stravinsky sire Balmont.  A G1 winner of the Middle Park Stakes, he is an older half-brother to Eskendereya (Giant’s Causeway) who was early favourite for the 2010 Kentucky Derby before a leg injury curtailed his career.

Balmont (USA) is now based permanently at Lynward Park in Bullsbrook after initially shuttling from Tara Stud in Ireland.

Unbeaten filly She’s Quality opened his first-crop account in Australia with a running double at Bunbury and Ascot in April.  Balmont will stand for a $4,400 (inc gst) fee this year.