Second impressive 2yo Group winner for Kameko

Kameko sired his second Group/Graded winner when his son Wimbledon Hawkeye powered clear in the Gr.2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket, cementing his position as a strong contender for the Gr.1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on Saturday 26 October.

Fresh from the success of New Century in the Gr.1 Summer Stakes in Canada, another son of Kameko landed a major 2yo prize when Wimbledon Hawkeye improved for the step up to 1m in the Gr.2 Royal Lodge Stakes.

There were two sons of Kameko in the 7-runner Royal Lodge and Wimbledon Hawkeye, after finishing 2^nd to Timeform’s highest-rated 2yo in Europe, The Lion In Winter, in the Acomb, started well fancied for the Newmarket Gr.2.

Hawksbill (Kameko) led the field, closely followed by Wimbledon Hawkeye who had a change of jockey, with James Doyle taking over from Silvestre de Sousa. Wimbledon Hawkeye took things up 2.5f out and, after showing a sharp turn of foot, never looked like being caught by Gr.3 Solario Stakes 3^rd Royal Playwright.

Wimbledon Hawkeye is trained by James Owen and owned by The Gredley Family. Tim Gredley told the press: “We thought if we won today we might have a crack at the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster. He's still got some more growing to do, which is why we were a bit hesitant about coming here today, but he did a nice bit of work here the other day when he walked all over a 90-rated horse, so we thought we'd swing the racket."

Wimbledon Hawkeye is around 8-1 for the Futurity and priced 25-1 with some bookmakers for next season's 2,000 Guineas. Gredley has also earmarked him as a possible Derby prospect. Kameko himself was narrowly beaten in the Royal Lodge before a stunning victory in the Futurity Trophy. He returned to win the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and finished 4^th as favourite for the Derby.

Wimbledon Hawkeye was bred by Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd, by Kameko out of Sea The Stars mare Eva Maria, who only made her debut in the July of her 3yo year, winning 3 times that season at up to 10f. She was 4^th in the Gr.2 Dahlia Stakes as a 4yo.

Three of Kameko’s 4 highest-rated performers on Racing Post Ratings, namely New Century, Wimbledon Hawkeye and Hawksbill, are all out of mares that didn’t make their debuts until their 3yo years.