By Sean Cronin
Andrew Balding trainee New Century (GB) (Kameko–Potent Embrace, by Street Cry {Ire}), last seen running second in Ascot's July 27 Listed Pat Eddery Stakes, made the step forward to secure a first stakes triumph for his freshman sire (by Kitten's Joy) with a pillar-to-post victory in Wednesday's Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury.
Breaking smartly for an immediate lead, the 15-8 second choice held sway throughout and kept on strongly under a late drive to defeat the hitherto undefeated Luther (GB) (Frankel {GB}) by a half-length. Coolmore's 10-11 favourite The Parthenon (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) was unable to land a telling blow and finished five lengths adrift in third.
“He's such a straightforward and willing horse, just like his Dad was really, he's Kameko's first stakes winner and I'm so thrilled,” said Andrew Balding. “That it came from our yard is brilliant and hopefully it's the first of many. He's been a fantastic horse from day one, but he's been a little bit of a slow learner. With that said, he's achieved more than his sire had at this stage, which is encouraging for the future. It wasn't ideal having to make the running, but we left that to the jockey and he got it just right. I think he'll stay further and he's in the [Sept. 28] Royal Lodge [at Newmarket]. There are other possibilities, so we'll discuss plans with Sheikh Fahad and see where we end up.”
New Century, full-brother to a yearling colt, is the fifth of six foals and second black-type scorer produced by a dual-winning half-sister to G3 UAE 2000 Guineas victor Kinglet (Kingmambo), G2 Derby Italiano runner-up King's Caper (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) and the dual stakes-placed Casanova (GB) (Frankel {GB}). His second dam is G1 Coronation Stakes and GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup runner-up Karen's Caper (War Chant). The February-foaled bay is also a half-brother to G3 Glorious Stakes victor and G1 Grosser Preis von Baden third Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}).
🤝 New Century – nice effort from the front in the Listed Stonehenge Stakes @salisburyraces | @oismurphy | @Qatar_Racing pic.twitter.com/kxFBpm6rpb
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 14, 2024
Wednesday, Salisbury, Britain
BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF STONEHENGE STAKES-Listed, £40,000, Salisbury, 8-14, 2yo, 8fT, 1:42.84, g/f.
1–NEW CENTURY (GB), 129, c, 2, by Kameko
1st Dam: Potent Embrace, by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Karen's Caper, by War Chant
3rd Dam: Miss Caerleona (Fr), by Caerleon
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-The Potent Embrace Partnership (GB); T-Andrew Balding; J-Oisin Murphy. £22,684. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $50,120. *1/2 to Passion And Glory (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), GSW-Eng, SW & GSP-Bhr, G1SP-Ger, $696,237.
2–Luther (GB), 129, c, 2, Frankel (GB)–Give And Take (GB), by Cityscape (GB). 1ST BLACK TYPE. (250,000gns Ylg '23 TATOCT). O-P Hickman & Nicholas Jones; B-Coln Valley Stud (GB); T-Charlie Fellowes. £8,600.
3–The Parthenon (Ire), 129, c, 2, Kingman (GB)–Wonder of Wonders, by Kingmambo. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £4,304.
Margins: HF, 5. Odds: 1.88, 4.50, 0.91.
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