Kameko Ready, Waiting For Racing Resumption

Last year's G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy winner Kameko (Kitten's Joy) is, like the rest of the Classic cohort, ticking over in winter quarters as connections await news of the resumption of racing. David Redvers, advisor to owner Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing, said on Thursday that the dark bay is in “incredibly good form” at trainer Andrew Balding's Kingsclere stable as he prepares for a run in the G1 2000 Guineas on a date yet to be confirmed.

“We couldn't be happier with the horse; he's done magnificently physically,” Redvers said. “He's really strengthened up. If anything he looks faster than he used to. He's gotten more muscular and he seems to be in a very good place in his mind, which seems to be very typical of Kitten's Joys, so it's always good to know that you're working with horses of that sort of temperament. But just like everyone else, we're sitting and waiting to hear what the plans are and then we'll be ready to go.”

“We're just frustrated at the moment because we don't really know-and we're hoping to learn in the next couple days-exactly what the BHA's plans are for the resumption of racing,” Redvers added. “We don't at this moment know whether the Guineas will happen on its allotted date–its historical date–or whether it will end up being postponed a fortnight, a month; we just don't know, and the BHA to be fair doesn't know either at the moment. We just have to track virus spreads and what the stats are telling us and what's happening with the dreaded numbers. But it's easy to focus on the numbers and forget that there is a human tragedy attached to a lot of them.”

Kameko, a $90,000 Keeneland September yearling signed for by Redvers in 2018, won going seven furlongs on debut at Sandown last July. He was second in the G3 Solario S. and the G2 Royal Lodge S. beaten a nose and a neck, respectively, before taking the Vertem Futurity Trophy over a mile on the Newcastle all-weather on Nov. 1.

“Andrew has him exactly where he would have wanted him if he was going to run in a trial in 10 days' time,” Redvers said. “It might be a case that we end up having to take the foot off the gas a bit just because there isn't anywhere for him to go. At the moment he's all dressed up with no party to go to, but we're all keeping a close eye on the developments.