'He’s not as big as Kameko but his mentality is spot on' - big brother to Book 2 sales stunner thriving ahead of Del Mar date

New Century, the full-brother to the most expensive colt ever sold at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, has been reported in great shape as his Breeders’ Cup assignment looms.

The Andrew Balding-trained two-year-old and the 1,000,000gns sale-topper bought by Godolphin on Wednesday are by Tweenhills sire Kameko, the 2,000 Guineas hero, and out of the late Potent Embrace, a daughter of Street Cry.

New Century was a Grade 1 winner for Sheikh Fahad Al Thani and his brothers in last month’s Summer Stakes at Woodbine, and the Qatar Racing homebred is among the market leaders in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar a fortnight on Friday.

It looks a wide-open contest – British and Irish bookmakers go 6-1 the field, with New Century no bigger than that price – but having won three of his last four outings, the Kingsclere colt certainly goes into the race in top form.  

David Redvers, racing manager for Qatar Racing, said: “New Century was bred at Tweenhills, he’s by Kameko and he’s trained by Andrew – the whole story has come full circle. 

“Winning [at] the Breeders' Cup is one of Sheikh Fahad’s unfulfilled ambitions. To have a genuine contender in New Century gives the whole operation a huge boost.”

Balding, also yet to win a Breeders’ Cup contest, said of New Century: “He’s got a great constitution and has taken everything in his stride. From travelling to Canada and winning, to preparing now for the Breeders' Cup. He’s been flying at home since he arrived back from Canada.

“Del Mar is probably not the ideal track for him, but this is the Breeders' Cup – a million-dollar Grade 1 – and we’re going for it. We’ll need a bit of luck with the draw.”

The colt was something of a late developer, as Balding added: “When he first came into training, I wasn’t wowed by him until his fifth or sixth piece of work. He’s a horse that learns and improves, and he’s turned into a fantastic competitor.”

New Century carries the legacy of his sire Kameko, whom Oisin Murphy rode in all his ten races for the Balding yard, the highlights of which were top-level strikes in the 2020 Guineas and the Futurity Trophy the previous year.

Kameko also has the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes winner Wimbledon Hawkeye flying his flag amid a promising start to his stud career.

Murphy, who has ridden New Century on all five starts and has a Breeders’ Cup winner at Del Mar on his CV having partnered the Japanese-trained Marche Lorraine to win the Distaff in 2021, said: “New Century is compact and has a great mind. He’s not as big as Kameko, but his mentality is spot on. He’s improving with every run this season. 

“It’s great to have a leading chance and I hope he can give me my second Breeders’ Cup victory.”

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