Emotional Oisin Murphy Captures First Classic on Kameko

Oisin Murphy became a British classic winner for the first time June 6 as Kameko lifted the QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) for Sheikh Fahad Al Thani's Qatar Racing.

In front of almost completely empty grandstands due to COVID-19 restrictions at Newmarket, the Andrew Balding-trained 10-1 winner of last season's Vertem Futurity Trophy (G1) overhauled the Frankie Dettori-ridden Coolmore colt Wichita in the closing strides to win by a neck.

Hot favorite Pinatubo, last season's champion juvenile, had every chance to justify 5-6 favoritism but suffered his first defeat in third.

Murphy piloted the late group 1 winner Roaring Lion to victory for Sheikh Fahad in 2017-18 and found himself overcome with emotion upon his return to the winner's circle aboard Kameko, another son of Kitten's Joy .

"I don't want to cry," Murphy said. "My boss, Sheikh Fahad, is at home in Newmarket, and obviously with the current pandemic, he couldn't be here.

"I started my career with Andrew Balding as trainer. To ride a classic winner, my first one, in these colors—this horse's father is Kitten's Joy, the same as Roaring Lion—is incredible. It's the stuff of dreams.

"It was a gutsy performance. He hardly blew a candle out afterwards. He must have a tremendous amount of ability."

Balding has been in stunning form since British racing resumed from its coronavirus shutdown and now has a serious chance of tasting Investec Derby (G1) glory for the first time.

Kameko is a 3-1 favorite from 9-1 with Betfair for the Epsom classic, and Murphy added: "Before the race, we always viewed him as a 10-furlong horse, and it will be up to Andrew, Sheikh Fahad, and David Redvers. Everyone will think about it.

"This guy has the mental attitude, and I think going there would be absolutely fine. But 12 furlongs is another half a mile further than the classic he just won today."

O'Brien Hand in Pedigree of Rising Star

Kameko, one of 14 top-level performers by U.S. turf sire extraordinaire Kitten's Joy, was a bargain purchase by Redvers at $90,000 from Paramount Sales' consignment to the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Bred by Calumet Farm, Kameko is the fifth foal out of Sweeter Still, a daughter of Rock of Gibraltar formerly trained at Ballydoyle and bred by Aidan O'Brien's wife, Annemarie. Sweeter Still finished fourth in the Flame of Tara Stakes at 2 but enjoyed greater success after switching to the U.S., most notably when winning the Senorita Stakes (G3T) for Jeff Mullins. Despite her evident talent as a broodmare, Sweeter Still, a half sister to Racing Post Trophy (G1) scorer Kingsbarns and the Derrinstown Stud One Thousand Guineas Trial (G3) winner Belle Artiste, boasts a wildly varied sales history.

In 2014, she was bought by Royal Oak Farm for $750,000 at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale but transferred to the ownership of Calumet Farm for a mere $35,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Even more remarkably, she was then sold to T. Lesley Thompson for only $1,500 in November 2018 when carrying to Optimizer , just two months after Redvers purchased Kameko.

Her 2019 yearling—a daughter of Big Blue Kitten  and therefore a close relation to Kameko—was bought by Atlantic Bloodstock for just $5,000 in September.

Kameko's victory also provided Rock of Gibraltar with his first classic success as a broodmare sire. Fittingly, he achieved that feat in a race he himself won in 2002 when beating Hawk Wing. The son of Danehill is the damsire of five group/grade 1 winners, with Kameko joined by Belvoir Bay, Line of Duty, Mikki Isle, and Photo Call.