Trainer Andrew Balding said he has “been really pleased” with Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) since his victory in the June 6 G1 2000 Guineas, and that the Qatar Racing colorbearer came through a racecourse gallop at Kempton on Wednesday well. He is aiming for the July 4 G1 Investec Derby.
“He went to Kempton [on Wednesday] for a gallop, which we did before Newmarket 10 days prior, and it went well,” Balding said. “We had the option of going to Epsom, they kindly offered, but I felt he needed a decent piece of work and I felt more comfortable doing that at a place we’d done it before. We played safe, went to Kempton and we’re perfectly happy with what he did.
“We were all thrilled. It was an easy piece for him, relatively speaking, he worked with the same lead horses he worked with before the Guineas–not group horses by any stretch–but he pulled clear very nicely. In terms of pointing to his fitness levels, he had a really good blow, he scoped clean afterwards, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Kameko is aiming to become the first colt to complete the Guineas/Derby double since Camelot (GB) in 2012. Just two others-Dawn Approach (Ire) and Saxon Warrior (Jpn)-have attempted it in the interim.
“Obviously there is no way of knowing [if he’ll stay the trip] until you try,” Balding said. “The figures show he’s very talented. The whole point of the Guineas and the Derby is that one is a test of speed and the other a test of temperament, stamina and agility. We’ve passed the speed test, now we’ve to pass the other.”
Balding’s father Ian is best known for training the great Mill Reef, who was second in the Guineas in 1971 before going on to win the Derby. Andrew Balding said his father has chimed in on his son’s Classic double attempt.
“My dad was saying, ‘why not gallop him over a mile and a half’ which is what they did in those days–Mill Reef did it between running in the Guineas and the Derby–but you can’t find it out at home, you’ve got to suck it and see,” the younger Balding said.
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