Guineas hero Kameko to retire to Tweenhills at end of 2020 campaign

Qatar Racing's 2,000 Guineas winner Kameko will be retired to stand at Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire at the end of 2020.

Connections intend to give the son of Kitten's Joy a final start in the Breeders' Cup, having opted out of a run at Ascot on Saturday.

Also an impressive winner of last year's Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes and fourth in the Derby, Kameko was most recently seen giving weight away to some very smart rivals in the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket.

Bought by Qatar Racing advisor David Redvers for $90,000 as a yearling at Keeneland, he is the obvious replacement to the late Roaring Lion, another outstanding son of Kitten's Joy for the same connections.

Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani, chairman of Qatar Racing, said: "My brothers and I are delighted to own another superstar in Kameko, whose record-breaking two and three-year-old campaigns will live long in our memory. We cannot wait to unveil him to breeders."

Andrew Balding says Kameko is the best he has trainedCredit: Edward Whitaker

Trainer Andrew Balding added: "Kameko is without doubt the best horse I’ve trained. He has all the attributes of a top-class miler and is a striking horse to look at. I feel very honoured to have had the opportunity to train a horse of such class."

Kameko was a first British Classic winner for jockey Oisin Murphy, who said: "I felt from the very beginning that this could be a special horse.

"He’s the perfect model – he has size, durability and a great character. To ride, he has super balance, a great turn of foot and a good mind – you can put him anywhere in a race. He’s a machine."

After Kameko's return from the Breeders’ Cup, he will be paraded for breeders, along with other Tweenhills stallions Zoustar, Havana Gold and Lightning Spear, at Longholes Stud in Newmarket during the Tattersalls December Mare Sale. His 2021 stud fee and syndication plans will be announced in due course.

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