AT the time of writing Kameko has just had his first runner, Kimmico, and the Richard Hughes-trained filly, a modest 8,000gns purchase, was placed at Kempton. With some 84 potential runners in his first crop, Kameko will surely start clocking up plenty of winners as the season unfolds.
After all, he was a very smart juvenile who trained on to become a very quick classic winner, and he has been well supported at stud. His first crop yearlings averaged four times his covering fee, as befits a son of Kitten’s Joy (El Prado), and he clocked the fastest time ever when landing the Group 1 2000 Guineas.
Four juvenile starts saw Kameko win a maiden over seven furlongs at Sandown, finish runner-up in both the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes and Group 3 Solario Stakes, beaten a neck and a nose, and he rounded out his first season with victory in the Group 1 Vertem Trophy which had to be run on Tapeta at Newcastle. His defeat of Wichita and Pinatubo in the 2000 Guineas was the better of his two wins at three, and he was fourth in no less than three Group 1 races, the Derby, Juddmonte International and the Sussex Stakes.
A classic victory for Kameko was appropriate for Sheikh Fahad, given that he took the place of the ill-fated Roaring Lion on the stallion roster at Tweenhills.
Both are among the best sons of Kitten’s Joy, the champion turf male in the USA. His greatest achievements were gained at three when he won both the 10-furlong Secretariat Stakes at Arlington and the mile and a half Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park. On many occasions he has been the leading turf sire in the USA, and arguably he might have been an even greater success as a stallion had he come to Europe.
Kameko is one of 16 Group or Grade 1 winners for his sire, and now he has the added bonus of doing so on two different surfaces. In Europe we are also very familiar with the performances of Roaring Lion, four-time Group 1 winner, and Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic winner Hawkbill who, like the former Tweenhills Stud stallion, also won the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes.
Kirsten Rausing found a place at Lanwades Stud for Kitten’s Joy’s son Bobby’s Kitten, winner of the six and a half furlong Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita, beating No Nay Never. He is sire of Sandrine, Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed.
Bobby’s Kitten is one of three Breeders’ Cup winners for Kitten’s Joy. Stephanie’s Kitten won the Grade 1 Filly and Mare Turf, while Oscar Performance took the Juvenile Turf.
Sweeter Still, a daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar (Danehill), was bred and raced by Annemarie O’Brien. Trained by husband Aidan, she made her debut in a listed race at the Curragh, the Flame Of Tara EBF Stakes, finishing fourth of nine, and she was sold on to race in the USA. There she was successful five times, all but once in stakes races, and her victories included the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at Hollywood Park.
Race record
KAMEKO (USA), Bay or Brown horse, 2017. Jt 2nd top rated 2yr old colt in Europe in 2019. Jt 2nd top rated 3yr old colt in Europe in 2020. Won 4 races, value £416,298, at 2 and 3, from 7 furlongs to 1 mile, 2000 Guineas, Newmarket, Gr.1, Vertem Futurity Trophy, Newcastle, Gr.1, Joel Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.2, also placed second in Royal Lodge Stakes, Newmarket, Gr.2 and Solario Stakes, Sandown, Gr.3.
At stud
Retired to stud in 202, first crop now two-year-olds.
Information
Stands at: Tweenhills Stud, Hartpury, Gloucestershire, GL19 3BG, England
Contact: David Redvers, Hannah Wall or Alice Thurtle
Telephone: +44 1452 700177
Email: alice@tweenhills.com
Web: www.tweenhills.com
Fee: £15,000