Kameko stars align for 2025

Dual Gr.1 and classic winner Kameko made an indelible mark on the international stage with his first crop of runners in 2024 and the vibes are very positive that the Tweenhills stallion will build on those foundations this year.

Qatar Racing’s homebred New Century was Kameko’s top performer after winning the Listed Stonehenge Stakes in Britain and Gr.1 Summer Stakes in Canada, as well as running with credit when fourth in the Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in the US.

After enjoying his winter break at Tweenhills, New Century has returned to trainer Andrew Balding who is clearly excited about his prospect for 2025:

“Obviously, New Century we’ve got high hopes for this year – he was a high-class 2yo. He seems to have wintered well, he’s still a couple of weeks off fast work, but we’re hoping he develops into a genuine Guineas candidate. He’s our big white hope.”

Andrew has already run eight of Kameko’s progeny included fellow winners Ghost Run and Spell Master, who like New Century, were born, raised and grazed at Tweenhills. Another was Wolfpack who showed plenty when second on debut. General Admission and Lady Kameko also look winners in waiting.

Another Gr.1 performer by Kameko with Classic aspirations is, of course, Wimbledon Hawkeye. The impressive Gr.2 Royal Lodge winner, who perhaps found heavy ground against him when third in the Gr.1 Futurity Trophy, is like New Century, bred to improve as a 3yo when he should stay 1m2f. Wimbledon Hawkeye will get the chance to train alongside the same owner’s 2024 Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly, who recently joined the James Owen stable.

Continuing with the Hawk-themed sons of Kameko, Hawksbill beat an impressive subsequent winner for his novice win last August and ran with credit in Stakes races thereafter.

Trainer Hugo Palmer told us: “Hawksbill has done phenomenally well. He was already a big horse last year but looks much more mature and stronger. I’m very pleased with him. He had an early break and has been back in ridden exercise since mid-November, so he’s been cantering for a couple of months and he’s nearly ready to start doing some faster work.

“We’re aiming to get him started nice and early. There’s the 1m conditions race at Kempton on March 29 that Notable Speech won last year, and there are other similar races at Chelmsford. If he were to win any of those, we could look at the Listed Heron Stakes at Sandown, where he’s run well before. In my mind he’s a Royal Ascot horse and that’s where we’re aiming with him. He’ll get a German Guineas entry too.”

Hugo also trains The Waco Kid, who is out of a Galileo half-sister to Kameko. He won a Gr.3 and then ran alongside New Century in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

“The Waco Kid has done really well,” said the trainer. “He’s a good deal broader than as a 2yo. He will also have a German Guineas entry, and I suspect he’ll have a Newmarket 2000 Guineas entry too.

“He’s likely to start his season in either the Craven or the Greenham; the Craven has the advantage of being at Newmarket where he handled the track to win the Gr.3 Tattersalls Stakes so well. He’s quite possibly a Jersey at Royal Ascot horse but we’ll see.”

Hugo also gave a glowing report on one of Kameko’s juveniles of 2025: “I also have a Kameko 2yo out of Qatar Queen, who is towards the top end of our 2yo colts in my mind at the moment. He’s not particularly early but he’s finding everything very easy. I’m delighted to have him.”

How fascinating that New Century, Wimbledon Hawkeye and Hawksbill – and Hugo’s 2yo out of Qatar Queen – are all out of mares who did not run as 2yos themselves.

Rajeko was another high-class 2yo by Kameko, already rated 99 before his win under a penalty in December. He returns to Gr.2 company in the Al Rayyan Mile in Qatar this Saturday. Trainer Michael Bell said: “He has always been a very straightforward horse and for a breeze-up graduate he has a particularly good mind. He’s very uncomplicated to deal with.”

Kameko’s aforementioned daughter Ghost Run won twice as a 2yo, including a valuable nursery at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting. Her tally was matched by American Gal who has already beaten her own dam by winning at 2, twice in fact by a combined margin of 6¾ lengths for Ed Walker and Dr Bridget Drew’s Mildmay Racing. The unbeaten filly – picked up for just 25,000gns – is another Kameko with stacks of potential.

Ed said: “She couldn’t have been more impressive last year. She had been training very well going into those races and we believed she was a nice filly. We also believed she was always going to be a much better 3yo. She was leggy and raw last year and has done very well through winter, when she went back to Mildmay for a break. She’s put on a lot of condition, strengthened up, she’s moving great and just stepping up to two canters now.

“The plan would be to start her off in the 1m fillies’ conditions race at Kempton on March 29 – she’s obviously gone well on the AW – and that will guide us as to whether we go into Stakes company next. We think she’s an exciting prospect and are very hopeful she’ll be a black-type filly this year.”

Juddmonte had a 2024 winner by Kameko in Ardeur and Godolphin showed their belief in him when going to 1,000,000gns for the full brother to New Century from the Tweenhills draft at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale (record price for a colt at Book 2).

Other Kameko 2yos to look out for are the 200,000gns colt out of Let It Be Me bought from Newsells Park Stud by Highclere Agency and the fillies out of Tiger Eye and Wren’s Breath, both born and raised at Tweenhills. We are also still to see the debut of Kameko’s highest-priced yearling of 2023, the gelding out of Roheryn, who is in training with Joseph O’Brien.

Exciting times! There are only a few nominations left available to Kameko so call us now on 01452 700177 to complete his 2025 book.