Kameko
Kameko | |
---|---|
Racing silks of Qatar Racing | |
Sire | Kitten's Joy |
Grandsire | El Prado |
Dam | Sweeter Still |
Damsire | Rock of Gibraltar |
Sex | Colt |
Foaled | 7 April 2017[1] |
Country | United States |
Colour | Bay or brown |
Breeder | Calumet Farm |
Owner | Qatar Racing |
Trainer | Andrew Balding |
Record | 10: 4-2-0 |
Earnings | £416,298 |
Major wins | |
Vertem Futurity Trophy (2019) 2000 Guineas (2020) Joel Stakes (2020) |
Kameko (foaled 7 April 2017) is an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old in 2019 he won his first race and then ran second in both the Solario Stakes and the Royal Lodge Stakes before winning the Vertem Futurity Trophy. On his first appearance as a three-year-old he won the 2000 Guineas in record time. He went on to win the Joel Stakes and finished fourth in both the Sussex Stakes and the International Stakes before being retired to stud at the end of the year.
Background
Kameko is a bay or brown colt with a narrow white blaze and four white socks bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm. As a yearling in September 2018 he was offered for sale at Keeneland and was bought for $90,000 by Sheikha Melissa Al Fahad [1] on behalf of Sheikh Fahad Al Thani's Qatar Racing. He was sent into training with Andrew Balding at Kingsclere in Hampshire. The horse name of Kameko is taken form Japanese, meaning "child turtle". Kameko was ridden in all of his starts by Oisin Murphy.
He was sired by Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey's stallion Kitten's Joy the U.S. Champion Male Turf Horse of 2004 whose other offspring include Roaring Lion, Stephanie's Kitten, Hawkbill, Bobby's Kitten and Big Blue Kitten.[2]
Kameko's dam Sweeter Still (a half-sister to Kingsbarns) was bred in Ireland but spent most of her racing career in North America where she won five races including the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes in 2008.[3] She was a great-great-granddaughter of Mesopotamia, an Irish broodmare whose other female-line descendants have included Halling, Mastery, Balla Cove and Just The Judge.[4]
Racing career
2019: two-year-old season
Kameko made his racecourse debut in a maiden race over seven furlongs at Sandown Park on 25 July when he started at odds of 15/2 in an eight-runner field. After racing in fourth place he took the lead approaching the final furlong and held off a late challenge from the outsider It's Good To Laugh to win by half a length.[5] Five weeks later, over the same course and distance, the colt was stepped up in class and started a 14/1 outsider for the Group 3 Solario Stakes. He tracked the leaders before finishing strongly but failed by a nose to overhaul the odds-on favourite Positive.
At Newmarket Racecourse on 28 September Kameko started 6/5 favourite for the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes over one mile. Murphy positioned the colt just behind the leaders before going to the front in the last quarter mile but he was caught near the finish and beaten a neck by the Aidan O'Brien-trained outsider Royal Dornoch. The Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster Racecourse on 26 October attracted an unusual five-day entry of twelve, with Kameko matched against eleven colts from the O'Brien stable. As a result of heavy rain at the already waterlogged Yorkshire track the race was abandoned and rescheduled to take place six days later on the synthetic Tapeta surface at Newcastle Racecourse, with entries being reopened. In the new race Kameko started the 11/2 third favourite behind the unbeaten Kinross and Mogul, the winner of the Champions Juvenile Stakes and the best fancied of the five O'Brien runners. The other eight contenders included Verboten (representing Godolphin), Innisfree (Beresford Stakes) and Tammani (Prix Isonomy). The race was the first British Group 1 contest to be run on a synthetic track.[6] Kameko settled just behind the leaders as Royal County Down set the pace, before moving up to take the lead approaching the final furlong. He quickly went clear and despite hanging to the right in the closing stages he won "comfortably" by 3+1⁄4 lengths from Innisfree.[7] After the race Andrew Balding said "He was impressive, but he's a very good horse who is improving all the time... How far will he stay? A mile and a quarter will be no problem, but we'll have to wait and see whether he stays a mile and a half. If he does, there is only one place he will go. We will probably start him off in the Guineas and go from there. We can still dream."[8]
In the official rating of European two-year-olds for 2019 Kameko was rated the second-best juvenile of the year, level with Earthlight but ten pounds inferior to Pinatubo.[9]
2020: three-year-old season
The flat racing season in England was disrupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic and the 2000 Guineas was run a month later than usual on 6 June over the Rowley mile at Newmarket. As racing had been cancelled in April and May Kameko went into the race without a previous run but Balding expressed confidence in his trainee saying "He's a big framed horse. He's not the flashiest horse in his routine exercise but he's always been the type that, every time you ask him for a little bit more, he's given and improved for it. Oisin was always saying of Roaring Lion, who was by Kitten's Joy, he seemed to just thrive on racing and every time he ran he just got better and better. I think this horse is very similar."[10]
In the Guineas Kameko went off the 10/1 fourth choice in the betting behind Pinatubo, Arizona (Coventry Stakes) and Wichita (Somerville Tattersall Stakes). The other eleven runners included Military March (Autumn Stakes), Kinross and Royal Dornoch. Murphy settled his mount in mid division as Persuasion set the early pace from Juan Elcano, Starcat and Wichita. Entering the last quarter mile Wichita went to the front with Pinatubo on his left and Military March to his right as Kameko looked to be trapped behind horses and unlikely to obtain a clear run. In the final furlong Kameko forced his way between Wichaita and Military March to gain the advantage and despite hanging right towards the centre of the track he won by a neck. Wichita took second place ahead of Pinatubo and Military March.[11] The winning time of 1:34.72 was a new record for the race. Commenting on his first win in a Classic race Murphy said "It means the absolute world to me. It's the stuff of dreams. Around four furlongs he got a little bit lost but he came home really well. It was a gutsy performance. He hardly blew a candle out afterwards – he must have a tremendous amount of ability".[12] When asked about the colt's prospects for the Epsom Derby Andrew Balding said "To me it looks the obvious choice, there would be a stamina doubt but there's only one way to find out. Probably his optimum trip would be a mile-and-a-quarter, but I think for one day only, he might be able to stay a mile-and-a-half."[13]
On 4 July Kameko started the 5/2 favourite for the 241st running of the Epsom Derby, over 1+1⁄2 miles at Epsom Racecourse. After tracking the early leaders he moved into fourth place behind the runaway leader Serpentine but was unable to make further progress and came home fourth behind Serpentine, Khalifa Sat and Amhran Na Bhfiann.[14] Later that month the colt was dropped back in distance and matched against older horses for the first time in the Sussex Stakes over one mile at Goodwood Racecourse. He started well before settling behind the leaders but was repeatedly denied a clear run in the straight and finished fourth behind Mohaather, Circus Maximus and Siskin.[15] Three weeks later Kameko was the only three-year-old colt to contest the International Stakes over 10+1⁄2 furlongs at York Racecourse. He raced towards the rear before moving into second place behind the front-running Ghaiyyath in the straight but faded in the final furlong and came home fourth of the five runners.[16] In the Group 2 Joel Stakes over one mile at Newmarket on 25 September Kameko started the 85/40 second favourite behind Benbatl in a six-runner field which also included Zabeel Prince, Top Rank (Superior Mile), Regal Reality (Sovereign Stakes) and Tilsit (Thoroughbred Stakes). Kameko raced in fourth place as Benbatl set the pace but gained the advantage approaching the final furlong and kept on well to win by half a length from Regal Reality.[17] After the race Andrew Balding said "That was 100% as good as his Guineas win. There was no hiding place today. I don't think we have had a fair crack of the whip with him this year. The horse has not had the campaign that we really wanted. I think there is no doubt he is a miler and that was a really good effort."[18]
For his final race Kameko was sent to the United States for the Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland on 7 November and went off the 4/1 favourite but after tracking the leaders he faded in the closing stages and came home seventh of the fourteen runners, beaten 3+1⁄4 lengths by the upset winner Order of Australia.[19]
Before his run in the Breeders' Cup it had been announced that Kameko would be retired from racing at the end of the year. Andrew Balding commented "Kameko is without doubt the best horse I've trained. He has all the attributes of a top-class miler and is a striking horse to look at. I feel very honoured to have had the opportunity to train a horse of such class. I felt from the very beginning that this could be a special horse. He's the perfect model – he has size, durability and a great character. To ride, he has super balance, a great turn of foot and a good mind – you can put him anywhere in a race. He's a machine".[20]
In the 2020 World's Best Racehorse Rankings, Kameko was rated on 122, making him the equal twenty-first best racehorse in the world.[21]
Stud career
Kameko began his stud career at his owner's Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire at a fee of £25,000.[22]
Pedigree
Sire Kitten's Joy (USA) 2001 | El Prado (IRE) 1989 | Sadler's Wells | Northern Dancer |
---|---|---|---|
Fairy Bridge | |||
Lady Capulet | Sir Ivor | ||
Cap and Bells | |||
Kitten's First (USA) 1991 | Lear Fan | Roberto | |
Wac | |||
That's My Hon | L'Enjoleur | ||
One Lane | |||
Dam Sweeter Still (IRE) 2005 | Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) 1999 | Danehill (USA) | Danzig |
Razyana | |||
Offshore Boom | Be My Guest (USA) | ||
Push A Button | |||
Beltisaal (FR) 1994 | Belmez (USA) | El Gran Senor | |
Grace Note (FR) | |||
Ittisaal (GB) | Caerleon (USA) | ||
House Tie (IRE) (Family: 10-c)[4] |
References
- ^ a b c "Kameko pedigree". Equineline.
- ^ "Kitten's Joy – Stud Record". Racing Post.
- ^ "Sweeter Still Race Record & Form". Equibase.
- ^ a b "Bonnie Doon – Family 10-c". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
- ^ "Martin Densham Memorial EBF Maiden Stakes result". Racing Post. 25 July 2019.
- ^ "Kameko wins as Newcastle stages first Group One race on an all-weather track". 1 November 2019 – via BBC.
- ^ "Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes result". Racing Post. 1 November 2019.
- ^ Russell, Colin (1 November 2019). "Kameko Upsets Ballydoyle Runners in Futurity Trophy". The Blood-Horse.
- ^ "European two-year-old Classification 2019" (PDF). Britishhorseracing.com. January 2020.
- ^ Sheerin, Brian (27 May 2020). "Balding: Kameko similar to Roaring Lion and we're all very excited about him". Racing Post.
- ^ "2000 Guineas result". Racing Post. 6 June 2020.
- ^ "Kameko stuns Pinatubo in 2,000 Guineas". 6 June 2020 – via BBC.
- ^ Wood, Greg (6 June 2020). "Kameko shocks Pinatubo in 2,000 Guineas to become Derby favourite" – via The Guardian.
- ^ "Investec Derby result". Racing Post. 4 July 2020.
- ^ "Sussex Stakes result". Racing Post. 29 July 2020.
- ^ "International Stakes result". Racing Post. 15 August 2020.
- ^ "Joel Stakes result". Racing Post. 25 September 2020.
- ^ "Kameko beats Bentabl to win Joel Stakes". 25 September 2020 – via BBC.
- ^ Hersh, Marcus (7 November 2020). "Breeders' Cup Mile: Order of Australia pulls $148.40 stunner". Daily Racing Form.
- ^ Peacock, Tom (17 October 2020). "Guineas hero Kameko to retire to Tweenhills at end of 2020 campaign". Racing Post.
- ^ "The 2020 World Thoroughbred Rankings". Horseracingintfed.com. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
- ^ "Kameko To Stand For £25,000". Thoroughbred Daily News. November 12, 2020.
- v
- t
- e
- 1809 Wizard
- 1810 Hephestion
- 1811 Trophonius
- 1812 Cwrw
- 1813 Smolensko
- 1814 Olive
- 1815 Tigris
- 1816 Nectar
- 1817 Manfred
- 1818 Interpreter
- 1819 Antar
- 1820 Pindarrie
- 1821 Reginald
- 1822 Pastille ♥
- 1823 Nicolo
- 1824 Schahriar
- 1825 Enamel
- 1826 Dervise
- 1827 Turcoman
- 1828 Cadland
- 1829 Patron
- 1830 Augustus
- 1831 Riddlesworth
- 1832 Archibald
- 1833 Clearwell
- 1834 Glencoe
- 1835 Ibrahim
- 1836 Bay Middleton
- 1837 Achmet
- 1838 Grey Momus
- 1839 The Corsair
- 1840 Crucifix ♥
- 1841 Ralph
- 1842 Meteor
- 1843 Cotherstone
- 1844 The Ugly Buck
- 1845 Idas
- 1846 Sir Tatton Sykes
- 1847 Conyngham
- 1848 Flatcatcher
- 1849 Nunnykirk
- 1850 Pitsford
- 1851 Hernandez
- 1852 Stockwell
- 1853 West Australian ₩
- 1854 The Hermit
- 1855 Lord of the Isles
- 1856 Fazzoletto
- 1857 Vedette
- 1858 Fitz-Roland
- 1859 The Promised Land
- 1860 The Wizard
- 1861 Diophantus
- 1862 The Marquis
- 1863 Macaroni
- 1864 General Peel
- 1865 Gladiateur ₩
- 1866 Lord Lyon ₩
- 1867 Vauban
- 1868 Formosa ♥
- Moslem
- 1869 Pretender
- 1870 Macgregor
- 1871 Bothwell
- 1872 Prince Charlie
- 1873 Gang Forward
- 1874 Atlantic
- 1875 Camballo
- 1876 Petrarch
- 1877 Chamant
- 1878 Pilgrimage ♥
- 1879 Charibert
- 1880 Petronel
- 1881 Peregrine
- 1882 Shotover ♥
- 1883 Galliard
- 1884 Scot Free
- 1885 Paradox
- 1886 Ormonde ₩
- 1887 Enterprise
- 1888 Ayrshire
- 1889 Enthusiast
- 1890 Surefoot
- 1891 Common ₩
- 1892 Bona Vista
- 1893 Isinglass ₩
- 1894 Ladas
- 1895 Kirkconnel
- 1896 St. Frusquin
- 1897 Galtee More ₩
- 1898 Disraeli
- 1899 Flying Fox ₩
- 1900 Diamond Jubilee ₩
- 1901 Handicapper
- 1902 Sceptre
- 1903 Rock Sand ₩
- 1904 St. Amant
- 1905 Vedas
- 1906 Gorgos
- 1907 Slieve Gallion
- 1908 Norman
- 1909 Minoru
- 1910 Neil Gow
- 1911 Sunstar
- 1912 Sweeper
- 1913 Louvois
- 1914 Kennymore
- 1915 Pommern ₩
- 1916 Clarissimus
- 1917 Gay Crusader ₩
- 1918 Gainsborough ₩
- 1919 The Panther
- 1920 Tetratema
- 1921 Craig an Eran
- 1922 St Louis
- 1923 Ellangowan
- 1924 Diophon
- 1925 Manna
- 1926 Colorado
- 1927 Adam's Apple
- 1928 Flamingo
- 1929 Mr Jinks
- 1930 Diolite
- 1931 Cameronian
- 1932 Orwell
- 1933 Rodosto
- 1934 Colombo
- 1935 Bahram ₩
- 1936 Pay Up
- 1937 Le Ksar
- 1938 Pasch
- 1939 Blue Peter
- 1940 Djebel
- 1941 Lambert Simnel
- 1942 Big Game
- 1943 Kingsway
- 1944 Garden Path ♥
- 1945 Court Martial
- 1946 Happy Knight
- 1947 Tudor Minstrel
- 1948 My Babu
- 1949 Nimbus
- 1950 Palestine
- 1951 Ki Ming
- 1952 Thunderhead
- 1953 Nearula
- 1954 Darius
- 1955 Our Babu
- 1956 Gilles de Retz
- 1957 Crepello
- 1958 Pall Mall
- 1959 Taboun
- 1960 Martial
- 1961 Rockavon
- 1962 Privy Councillor
- 1963 Only For Life
- 1964 Baldric
- 1965 Niksar
- 1966 Kashmir
- 1967 Royal Palace
- 1968 Sir Ivor
- 1969 Right Tack
- 1970 Nijinsky ₩
- 1971 Brigadier Gerard
- 1972 High Top
- 1973 Mon Fils
- 1974 Nonoalco
- 1975 Bolkonski
- 1976 Wollow
- 1977 Nebbiolo
- 1978 Roland Gardens
- 1979 Tap On Wood
- 1980 Known Fact
- 1981 To-Agori-Mou
- 1982 Zino
- 1983 Lomond
- 1984 El Gran Senor
- 1985 Shadeed
- 1986 Dancing Brave
- 1987 Don't Forget Me
- 1988 Doyoun
- 1989 Nashwan
- 1990 Tirol
- 1991 Mystiko
- 1992 Rodrigo de Triano
- 1993 Zafonic
- 1994 Mister Baileys
- 1995 Pennekamp
- 1996 Mark of Esteem
- 1997 Entrepreneur
- 1998 King of Kings
- 1999 Island Sands
- 2000 King's Best
- 2001 Golan
- 2002 Rock of Gibraltar
- 2003 Refuse To Bend
- 2004 Haafhd
- 2005 Footstepsinthesand
- 2006 George Washington
- 2007 Cockney Rebel
- 2008 Henrythenavigator
- 2009 Sea the Stars
- 2010 Makfi
- 2011 Frankel
- 2012 Camelot
- 2013 Dawn Approach
- 2014 Night of Thunder
- 2015 Gleneagles
- 2016 Galileo Gold
- 2017 Churchill
- 2018 Saxon Warrior
- 2019 Magna Grecia
- 2020 Kameko
- 2021 Poetic Flare
- 2022 Coroebus
- 2023 Chaldean
- 2024 Notable Speech
External links
- Career 1-2-3 Colour Chart – Kameko