Kameko dethrones Pinatubo in 2000 Guineas
The winning run of sensational colt Pinatubo (Shamardal) has ended after last year’s Vertem Futurity Trophy (Gr 1, 1m) winner Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) took out the 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) in front of an empty Rowley Mile grandstand at Newmarket yesterday.
Trained by Andrew Balding and ridden by Oisin Murphy, Kameko settled behind Arizona (No Nay Never) throughout the run, before breaking through runners and holding off the Aidan O’Brien-trained Wichita (No Nay Never) to score by a neck.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Pinatubo was undefeated from six starts before yesterday and ran to the front with two furlongs to go, but weakened under pressure and finished a length back in third. His rider, William Buick, said there were no issues with the colt and was pleased with his performance.
It was the first Classic win for last year’s Champion Jockey Murphy, who is the retained rider for Qatar Racing and landed his maiden Group 1 aboard fellow Sheikh Fahad-owned colt Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy).
“I don’t want to cry,” Murphy said. “My boss, Sheikh Fahad is at home in Newmarket and obviously with the current pandemic he couldn’t be here.
“I started my career with Andrew Balding as trainer. To ride a Classic winner, my first one, in these colours – this horse’s father is Kitten’s Joy, the same as Roaring Lion – is incredible. It’s the stuff of dreams.
“It was a gutsy performance. He hardly blew a candle out afterwards – he must have a tremendous amount of ability.”
Purchased by David Redvers for US$90,000 from Paramount Sales at Keeneland in September, 2018, Kameko (3 c Kitten’s Joy – Sweeter Still by Rock of Gibraltar) has had five starts for three wins and two seconds, earning £299,612 in prize-money.
He is out of the Grade 3-winning miler Sweeter Still (Rock of Gibraltar), who herself is a half-sister to 2012 Racing Post Trophy (Gr 1, 1m) winner Kingsbarns (Galileo) and Irish 1,000 Guineas Trial (Gr 3, 7f) scorer Belle Artiste (Namid).
Further back, the family features Group / Grade 1 winners such as Danish (Danehill), African Story (Pivotal) and Rip Van Winkle (Galileo).
Qatar Racing, Redvers and Tweenhills Stud lost a fellow son of Kitten’s Joy (El Prado) in Roaring Lion, who died of colic while shuttling to Cambridge Stud in New Zealand last year, but they might have found themselves a suitable replacement in Kameko.
Kameko has shortened into a 3-1 chance for next month’s Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) and Murphy added: “Before the race, we always viewed him as a ten–furlong horse and it will be up to Andrew, Sheikh Fahad and David Redvers, everyone will think about it.
“This guy has the mental attitude and I think going there would be absolutely fine. But 12 furlongs is another half a mile further than the Classic he just won today.”