Qatar Racing

There was a real buzz surrounding Qatar Racing's Kameko (Kitten's Joy) as the delayed G1 QIPCO 2,000 Guineas approached and the G1 Futurity Trophy winner justified all the expectation as he swooped to conquer the Newmarket Classic on Saturday. Arriving at the forefront of his generation with an emphatic win in Doncaster's traditional juvenile feature which was re-arranged on Newcastle's Tapeta in November, the bay had earned rave reviews from Andrew Balding's Kingsclere base during this year's prolonged waiting period. In mid-division on the rail as the pace proved strong...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Sheriff Bianco (c, 2, by Speightster--Summer Rules, by Perfect Soul {Ire}), a strong second after a tardy beginning and wide trip on debut for trainer Wesley Ward at Churchill Downs May 22, will look to earn his diploma at the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting. Drawn on the extreme outside in post 11 going 4 1/2 furlongs over the main track beneath the Twin Spires, the Qatar Racing colorbearer...

Trainer Andrew Balding had a positive report regarding G1SW Kameko (Kitten's Joy) in advance of the G1 English 2000 Guineas on June 6, Racing TV reported on Tuesday. The Qatar Racing runner galloped at Kempton last week. A last out winner of the G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy S. over the Newcastle all-weather, the big bay opened his career with a debut win at Sandown, before a pair of runner-up efforts in the G3 Solario S. and the G2 Royal Lodge S. "He had a gallop at Kempton last week and...

After it was announced that QIPCO had ended its sponsorship of the G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Prix du Jockey Club,  Leopardstown thanked QIPCO for their support on Thursday. QIPCO had assisted with Longines Irish Champions Weekend since it began in 2014, but is now turning its focus toward its sponsorship activities in Britain. (Click here for some highlights of the Irish Champion S.) "I would like to thank QIPCO and Sheikh Fahad for their incredible support of the Irish Champion S. for the past six years," said Leopardstown...

Longholes Stud, located just outside Newmarket and owned by Sheikh Fahad since 2013, has been listed for sale with an asking price of £6-million. Sheikh Fahad redeveloped the 217-acre property as a state-of-the-art rehabilitation and pre-training centre for both racehorses and sport horses. The property includes 88 stables, extensive railed paddocks and about 100 acres of open pasture, horse walkers and lunge ring, a 2 1/2 furlong canter and a six-furlong woodchip gallop. There is a farmhouse, cottage and four staff houses. Windsor Clive International, Knight Frank's London and Bishops...

Last year's G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy winner Kameko (Kitten's Joy) is, like the rest of the Classic cohort, ticking over in winter quarters as connections await news of the resumption of racing. David Redvers, advisor to owner Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing, said on Thursday that the dark bay is in "incredibly good form" at trainer Andrew Balding's Kingsclere stable as he prepares for a run in the G1 2000 Guineas on a date yet to be confirmed. "We couldn't be happier with the horse; he's done magnificently physically," Redvers said....

Andrew Balding could look to the G3 bet365 Craven S. at Newmarket as a potential starting point for Kameko ahead of an outing in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas. The Kingsclere handler believes the mile Group 3 contest could be the ideal stepping stone for the son of Kitten's Joy, before returning him to the track for the opening Classic. After finishing second over course and distance in the Royal Lodge S. on his penultimate start, Kameko ended the year on a high when winning the first Group 1 race...