Kameko Upsets Ballydoyle Runners in Futurity Trophy

Pinatubo might not have everything his own way next year as Kameko looked a real horse for the future with an impressive success in the rearranged Vertem Futurity Trophy (G1), the first group 1 in Britain to be held on the all-weather under lights.

The Andrew Balding-trained winner was the only non-Aidan O'Brien-trained juvenile to be declared in the original race six days ago, but we will never know whether he would have been as effective on the bog-like turf at Doncaster. 

Balding said: "He was impressive, but he's a very good horse who is improving all the time. I'm grateful to everyone for transferring the race here to Newcastle, and I'm not certain he would have done so well in the testing ground last week. 

"Things didn't go quite right for (jockey) Oisin (Murphy) last time at Newmarket, and although he was perhaps in front a bit sooner than we would have liked today, he quickened up in good style.

"How far will he stay? A mile and a quarter will be no problem, but we'll have to wait and see whether he stays a mile and a half. If he does, there is only one place he will go. We will probably start him off in the Guineas and go from there. We can still dream."

Murphy said: "I'm delighted to have won my first domestic group 1 for Andrew and all the team at Park House. At Newmarket when I switched him out to follow Frankie (Dettori), he got a bit lit up, but he relaxed brilliantly today and showed that instant acceleration, which is the mark of a really good horse.

"He's by the same sire as Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy ), but he has a way to go to emulate him. I'm not so sure that Newmarket is his ideal track, but we'll see. He got the mile well today and should certainly stay a bit further."

The winner is owned by Qatar Racing, whose racing manager, David Redvers, added: "He's a decent horse. His dam struggled to stay a mile, so I thought that he wouldn't want any further than this, but he wasn't stopping."

Kameko, who won his maiden at Sandown in July, has proved quite a bargain for his owners. Redvers bought him for just $90,000 from Paramount Sales' consignment to the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Sent off a well-supported 11-2 shot in the 11-runner field, Kameko came home by 3 1/4 lengths from Innisfree, who fared best of the O'Brien quintet. His rider, Seamie Heffernan, said: "I'm very pleased with that. He's a stayer."

Third home was another O'Brien runner, Year of The Tiger, who finished a short head in front of stable companion Mogul. 

The disappointment of the race was impressive Newmarket debut winner Kinross, who started favorite at 13-8 but never got into contention.