Kameko

In bloodstock circles, plenty of air is devoted to rueing the unforgiving nature of the market, not least the tendency to toss a mare out with the bath water should she fail to sparkle with her first few foals. When Kameko (Kitten's Joy) won the G1 2000 Guineas on June 6, he made a fairly strong case for perseverance. His dam, the well-bred graded stakes winner Sweeter Still (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), had been the co-second highest priced lot at Keeneland's January Sale in 2014 at $750,000 in foal...

There were days when we were drumming our fingers on our at-home desks or dining tables wondering what on earth to write about for tomorrow. But now that the shock of racing's shutdown has been completely erased by the return, finally, of racing in Ireland to complete a European full set, the panic is not what to write but how on earth to keep up with it all. No complaints here. The last few weeks since the French return in mid-May and Britain just over a week ago have provided...

There was a real buzz surrounding Qatar Racing's Kameko (Kitten's Joy) as the delayed G1 QIPCO 2,000 Guineas approached and the G1 Futurity Trophy winner justified all the expectation as he swooped to conquer the Newmarket Classic on Saturday. Arriving at the forefront of his generation with an emphatic win in Doncaster's traditional juvenile feature which was re-arranged on Newcastle's Tapeta in November, the bay had earned rave reviews from Andrew Balding's Kingsclere base during this year's prolonged waiting period. In mid-division on the rail as the pace proved strong...

From a $6,000 yearling to millionaires' row, the line-up for the first British Classic of the season features some smart homebreds along with sales graduates for almost every pocket. Al Suhail (GB) Dubawi (Ire) - Shirocco Star (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) Last seen finishing runner-up over course and distance to fellow Guineas contender Military March in the G3 Autumn S. last October, this Meon Valley Stud-bred colt was a 1.1 million gns purchase at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. His dam was runner-up in both the Oaks and...

Trainer Andrew Balding had a positive report regarding G1SW Kameko (Kitten's Joy) in advance of the G1 English 2000 Guineas on June 6, Racing TV reported on Tuesday. The Qatar Racing runner galloped at Kempton last week. A last out winner of the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. over the Newcastle all-weather, the big bay opened his career with a debut win at Sandown, before a pair of runner-up efforts in the G3 Solario S. and the G2 Royal Lodge S. "He had a gallop at Kempton last week and...

Trainer Andrew Balding said he would rather see the G1 Investec Derby go ahead on a different date and on a different racecourse than usual than no Derby at all. Jockey Club Racecourses revealed on Tuesday that the Guineas Festival, originally set for May 2 and 3, and the Investec Derby Festival on June 5 and 6 would definitely be pushed back, with dates to be decided when it is more clear when racing will resume. Balding, who trains Guineas hopeful Kameko (Kitten's Joy), told Sky Sports Racing, "Obviously it's...

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....

Andrew Balding could look to the G3 bet365 Craven S. at Newmarket as a potential starting point for Kameko ahead of an outing in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas. The Kingsclere handler believes the mile Group 3 contest could be the ideal stepping stone for the son of Kitten's Joy, before returning him to the track for the opening Classic. After finishing second over course and distance in the Royal Lodge S. on his penultimate start, Kameko ended the year on a high when winning the first Group 1 race...

It's hard to know quite what Kitten's Joy has to do in order to gain a commercial standing commensurate with his achievements. As it is, the champion North American sire of 2018 once again proved unable to crack the top 30 sires ranked by the average value of their yearlings in 2019. Not that he should take it personally. We all know that the American industry talks a good game about the growing importance of the turf program, but won't follow through when young stallions as well-bred and accomplished as...