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...

Classic-winning three-year-olds Kameko and Siskin square up in a field of seven for the race of the season in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. They were victorious in the English and Irish 2000 Guineas respectively and now take on the older horses in Wednesday’s Group One over a mile. Siskin, trained by Ger Lyons, has not raced since scoring in impressive fashion at the Curragh. His rider Colin Keane has made the decision to come over for the ride despite having to face 14 days’ quarantine on his return to Ireland. The Andrew Balding-trained Kameko drops back to this trip after finding a mile and a half too far when fourth in the Investec Derby. The two other three-year-olds in the line-up are the Aidan O’Brien-trained duo of Wichita and Vatican City. The former was second to Kameko at Newmarket, with Vatican City occupying the same spot behind Siskin at the Curragh. O’Brien also again sends over four-year-old Circus Maximus, winner of the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Asco...

Kameko is on course for a mouthwatering clash with Irish 2000 Guineas winner Siskin in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on July 29. Andrew Balding's 2000 Guineas hero, who subsequently had his stamina limitations exposed in the Investec Derby when fourth, will return to a mile at the meeting sponsored by his owner, Sheikh Fahad. Balding is still keen on a crack at the Juddmonte International over 10 furlongs at York next month and feels this race is in the ideal spot in the calendar to prepare for that.                 Andrew Nelis Racing 

Andrew Balding will consider the possibility of running Kameko in the Sussex Stakes before his 2000 Guineas winner heads to the Juddmonte International. Connections felt Kameko failed to see out the trip when fourth behind Serpentine in the Investec Derby on Saturday, and he will now drop in distance. While the York race is his big aim, if it is thought the son of Kitten's Joy needs another race before August 19, he will head to Goodwood and revert to a mile. Kameko may be joined in Goodwood action by Balding's Derby runner-up Khalifa Sat, who defied his 50-1 odds at Epsom to finish closest to the all-the-way winner and advertised his St Leger prospects in the process. "Both are sound this morning," said the Kingsclere trainer on Sunday.                           Andrew Nelis Racing 

As the price has collapsed on English King for Saturday’s July Derby, I can’t help feeling that the market has got it wrong. Obviously, the Frankie factor has played a part - a huge part - but, surely, on what they have achieved so far, Kameko should be favourite. If the Guineas winner stays, he will take all the beating. How often has that been said, over the years! Kameko’s victory in the 2,000 is comfortably the best form on offer and, amazingly in this peculiar year, he is the only Group One winner (x2) in the line-up. His connections would have been encouraged by the good runs from the Guineas-placed duo Wichita and Pinatubo in the St James’s Palace Stakes, although the fifth Juan Elcano was given a similar beating by Russian Emperor at Ascot.                           Andrew Nelis Racing