2yo Kameko colt wins Group 3

Kameko’s impressive novice winner Five Ways hit the target in a Group race at the first time of asking when making just about all in the Sirenia Stakes at Kempton last Saturday. 

Kameko colt Five Ways looks one of the most progressive 2yos in Britain after his battling win in the Gr.3 Unibet Sirenia Stakes over 6f at Kempton. Once again ridden by Jason Watson, Five Ways gave trainer Andrew Balding his first win in the and carried the colours of his breeder John Hobby.

Five Ways is the fourth foal out of Mayson mare Rosie Briar, who herself went from maiden win to Stakes winner at the first time of asking in 2016, battling to victory in the Listed Doncaster Stakes for the same owner and trainer. Five Ways is her fourth runner and easily her best. The family goes back to Five Ways’ great granddam Natchez Trace who also carried John Hobby's silks when trained by Andrew’s father Ian Balding in 1992-93. 

Andrew Balding told the press: “We've always liked him. He shows a lot of ability in his homework and he won well at Salisbury last time, so we just thought it was worth a go.

"He was bred by John Hobby, who was a great friend of my parents for many years, so it's fantastic for him, and he's by Kameko, so it's really good for the whole team."

He added: "He'll stay further in time. We'll just have to see if we go again this year. He's a lovely horse for the future. We were a bit disappointed first time out, but the ground was a bit loose and he had a bit of wheelspin and probably needed the run."

Five Ways’ Gr.3 win came a week after another son of Kameko, Wimbledon Hawkeye, won the Nashville Derby at Kentucky Downs in equally admirable fashion. Much like his sire Kitten’s Koy and paternal half-brother Running Lion, Kameko is clearly putting fantastic racing attitudes into his progeny.