Andrew balding bullish on Kamekos in the Juddmonte Andrew Nelis racing

Andrew Balding is confident 2000 Guineas hero Kameko can play a major role in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York, providing he stays the trip.

The son of Kitten’s Joy will make his first start over a mile and a quarter in Wednesday’s Group One showpiece, after connections decided to swerve this weekend’s alternative in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.

While Kameko, who finished fourth in the Derby on his penultimate start, still has his stamina to prove, the Kingsclere handler believes 10 furlongs may prove his optimum distance.

Balding said: “The decision not to run in France was down to two things.

“There was ground – because they had a lot of rain – which may have been unsuitable for him, and then there was the restrictions on jockeys (travelling and returning from France), so we decided to give him a go over a mile and a quarter.

“We always thought this would be his trip, but you never know until you try.

“He shaped like a mile was his trip (when fourth) in the Sussex Stakes, but as long as he stays he has got the class to run a big race.”

Although Kameko will be taking on established mile-and-a-quarter performers, in Eclipse winner Ghaiyyath and Prince of Wales’s Stakes hero Lord North, Balding is confident he merits his place in the line-up.

He added: “Ghaiyyath will make sure it is a truly-run race and he is a top-class horse, as is Lord North and whatever Aidan (O’Brien) throws at the race.

“It is a proper race, and I’m glad to be part of it.”

Kameko was seen by many as a slightly unlucky loser when short of room during the closing stages of the Sussex Stakes last time out, but Balding has no complaints about the outcome at Goodwood.

He said: “He was unlucky in the Sussex Stakes, but the winner (Mohaather) would have been unlucky as well had he not won.

“I can’t for a second say that he would have won it, but he would have gone a lot closer.

“It was slightly frustrating, but that is what happens at Goodwood from time to time. Happily the horse didn’t have a hard race as a result, so we can bounce back to York.”..

Andrew Nelis Racing

Comments

Fury to contest the St Ledger Doncaster Andrew Nelis

Trainer Richard Spencer has identified the St Leger at Doncaster as the primary objective for his exciting colt Tyson Fury. The Newmarket handler confirmed in February of last year that the two-time heavyweight world champion had given his blessing for the Iffraaj colt to be named in his honour, with part-owner Phil Cunningham friendly with a member of Fury's team. While it has taken a while for the equine Tyson Fury to hit the racecourse, he produced a knockout display on his Doncaster debut earlier in the month, leaving connections dreaming of a tilt at Classic glory later in the year... Andrew Nelis Racing

Enable looks to eclipse as next port of call Sandown Andrew Nelis

The Coral -Eclipse at Sandown remains the most likely comeback target for superstar mare Enable . The daughter of Nathaniel was just denied in her bid for an historic third consecutive victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at the end of last season, filling the runner-up spot behind Waldgeist to end her sequence of 12 straight victories. Less than a fortnight later, Enable’s owner-breeder Khalid Abdullah delighted racing fans by confirming his charge would stay in training as a six-year-old – with a return to Paris in the autumn top of the agenda. Connections decided against an appearance at Royal Ascot, but the owner’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe reports the John Gosden -trained mare to be firmly on course for the Eclipse on July 5 following a pleasing workout under Frankie Dettori last week. “It’s been a gradual build-up – she’s a six-year-old mare, so I don’t think John wants to do anything too quickly,” Grimthorpe told Sky Sports Racing. “She’s ...

Epsom Derby Runners and riders 2020 Andrew Nelis

1 AMHRAN NA BHFIANN Sire : Galileo. Trainer : Aidan O’Brien. Official rating : --. Odds : 50-1 Who will add their name to the Derby roll of honour? Positives : His sister, Was, won the Oaks on her third start in 2012, while his brother, Douglas Macarthur, finished seventh in the 2017 Derby after being deployed as a pacemaker. He himself offered something to work on when fourth in a Leopardstown maiden last time, when finishing behind three stablemates who subsequently all made their presence felt in the Irish Derby. His best days are ahead of him. Negatives : Has mountain to climb on form and even his master trainer has not pulled off the trick of winning the Derby with a twice-raced maiden. Indeed, the last maiden to win the race was in 1887. Verdict : Folly to underestimate anything his trainer runs but easy enough to looks elsewhere. 2 EMISSARY Sire : Kingman. Trainer : Hugo Palmer. Official rating : 98. Odds : 33-1 ...

Andrew Nelis racing

Search This Blog