A Group 1 winner at two and winner of the G1 2,000 Guineas in 2020, 3-year-old Kameko will be making the trip across the Atlantic to contest the Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland. Trained by Andrew Balding, the son of Kitten's Joy will enter the Mile off a victory in the Group 2 Joel Stakes, held over a mile at Newmarket.
“The Joel Stakes was as good a performance as the Guineas, really,” Balding said in a Twitter video produced by At The Races. “To give them five pounds and a beating in good style, it again cemented to the world what a high-class achiever this horse is.”
For work rider, Joshua Bryan, the chance to send the horse to the United States for the Breeders' Cup has long been on his mind.
“He's got one strong burst where he could blow away a whole field in a matter of strides,” Bryan said. “I always thought he'd be a great horse in America. He's by Kitten's Joy, who is obviously great out there, and he's got that nice cruising speed to get him out of trouble in America. I think whatever surface out there he would thoroughly enjoy.”
Kameko was bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, and commanded the bargain price of $90,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September sale from agent David Redvers on behalf of Qatar Racing. Now a four-time winner from nine starts with earnings over $500,000, the colt returns to his home state to take on the best in the world.
Kameko will have to overcome 2019 Mile winner Uni, as well as several horses who've had his measure earlier this season. Circus Maximus and Siskin both finished ahead of Kameko in the G1 Sussex Stakes over a mile, but with the potential for firmer ground at Keeneland next weekend, the classic winner's team is feeling confident.
“To this date he's been my favorite work horse,” said Bryan. “I've rode a lot of good horses here at Andrew's, but he has that ability to switch off. He's almost asleep in behind, and you don't need to move on him. He knows when he's gotta join, and all you have to do is just pull the rein a tiny bit to the right or left, wherever you're going, and he just takes off. It's a feeling you long for as a rider; it's incredible, really.”
Listen to what the team behind the @FanDuel #BreedersCup Mile pr/by @PDJFund possible favorite KAMEKO🇬🇧 has to say. The son of Kitten's Joy (@HillnDaleFarm) is attempting to become the 1st 2000 Guineas (G1) winner to land the Mile. @Qatar_Racing 🐢 #BC20 pic.twitter.com/ZCrRZbYaSm
— Breeders' Cup World Championships (@BreedersCup) October 27, 2020
The post ‘Ability To Switch Off,’ ‘Cruising Speed’ Should Benefit Classic Winner Kameko In Breeders’ Cup Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
