Kameko - Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy 2019

Kameko raced into the history books with an impressive success in the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Newcastle.

Originally due to be the centrepiece of last Saturday’s abandoned fixture at Doncaster, the Group One event was swiftly rescheduled to be run at Gosforth Park – making it the first ever top-level contest staged on the all-weather in Britain.

A high-class field of 11 juveniles went to post, with Aidan O’Brien fielding a five-strong team in a bid to match the late Sir Henry Cecil’s record of 10 victories in the race.

The heavily-backed favourite was Ralph Beckett’s runaway Newmarket scorer Kinross – but in the end none of them could land a glove on Andrew Balding’s dominant winner.

Since making a winning debut at Sandown in July, the son of Kitten’s Joy had been touched off by the Clive Cox-trained Positive in the Solario Stakes and O’Brien’s Royal Dornoch in the Royal Lodge.

Sent off at 11-2 for his latest assignment, Kameko travelled strongly in midfield in the hands of newly-crowned champion jockey Oisin Murphy before rocketing three and a quarter lengths clear.

Innisfree fared best of the O’Brien quintet in second, with his stablemate Year Of The Tiger pipping the apparent Ballydoyle first string Mogul to third.

[jeanlawley]

This is a class horse ... equally at home on the all weather or turf surface ... has won a group one now on both ... a sure sign that we are looking at an exceptional horse

[derekthesec]

Well done Kameko. Should make the Futurity Trophy at Newcastle permanent.

[stephenanderson]

Now this horse had given fair warning of his talent... the bookie who took my bet at the track knew, he only went 9/2.

[stephenscotcher]

Only 2 days to the Derby and this the horse for me.

[kathcordingley]

Nice winner but not a derby contender, top miler for next year though, quick turn of foot & lovely cruising action,

[nightowl]

I'm glad that a horse who was in the original lineup has won, as I don't believe because of the nature the original race at Doncaster was relocated that they should have had a re-entry stage, but I still think it was wrong to relocate it to a all weather course, it should have been relocated to Newmarket.

[barryreinitz]

Kitten Joy's a hell of a sire if given the right mares

[leesog]

Just got the word guys.. this thing will sluice up in the Guineas.. it may even go on to be the best horse in the world.. 🤭🥇💯

[Eaglehunter]

Put £100 on at 7/2...gotta love bog and the drift out to 11/2

[KaozZapp]

Kinda sadness in this success 🤗Caller normaly tell that "bit slow to stride" ... Nice gallopp Kameko

[suemaher]

Fantastic ride by O. Murphy. Congrats to Andrew Balding that will do nicesly

[johnobrien]

I had £6000 on the winner it’s so fucking greAt 👍 I’m great I’m the best gambler ever you are all ok but in greatness I am greater than god