Newcastle is not often known for producing British Classic winners on the Flat. However, this is exactly what happened last November when Kameko won Group One Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes at the course.
Andrew Balding’s runner went off at 11/2 in the betting for the two-year-old contest which was moved to Newcastle’s all-weather surface from Doncaster. In the hands of Oisin Murphy, the talented colt finished the race strongly along the rails to score by just over three lengths.
The son of Kitten’s Joy went straight to the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the opening Classic on the British Flat calendar without a preparation run. Once again, he was impressive as he powered home to get up by a neck, beating the best of his generation over 1m, including the red-hot favourite Pinatubo.
Some of Kameko’s rivals may have needed that run at Newmarket so look out for them in the results for all of today’s horse racing. They will be bidding to reverse the result with the Guineas winner when they meet again.
Kameko’s victory at Newmarket has set up a number of major races this season for the colt. His immediate target will be the Derby at Epsom. Stamina is unlikely to be an issue for the British horse so connections are confident he will be equally as effective over 1m4f.
The bookmakers have added Kameko into their King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting where he is available at 16/1. That race at Ascot is likely to be his first test against the older generation.
Since 2000, only five three-year-olds have won the feature race at Ascot in July. Oaks winners Taghrooda and Enable were the most recent two as they were successful in 2014 and 2017 respectively.
Nashwan was the last horse to win the 2000 Guineas and King George in the same year during his incredible 12 months in 1989.
Kameko May Meet Superstar Enable For The First Time
As you may have read in the latest horse racing news, the 2000 Guineas winner could face Enable in the prestigious middle-distance contest on July 25. Although the Arc is the primary target for the superstar filly in 2020, her connections will be hoping she can win the race at Ascot for the third time.
Enable is the defending champion as she came out on top in the King George last year, beating Crystal Ocean by a narrow margin in a close finish. She went off at 8/13 in the betting in 2019 and can be backed at 13/8 to repeat that success this year.
John Gosden’s stable star is expected to be set for her final season on the track. She has won 13 of her 15 races so far. Like Kameko, she also won at Newcastle as a two-year-old. Her victory at Gosforth Park came on her debut in a maiden fillies’ contest over 1m.
The King George may not be the only time Kameko gets to take on the two-time Cartier Horse of the Year. He is 16/1 to end 2020 in spectacular style by winning the Arc at Longchamp in October.
It is going to be an exciting year for those associated with the 2000 Guineas winner as he bids to win some of the biggest races in the sport.