Godolphin close to Book 2 record as they reach million mark for brother to Kameko Grade 1 winner

Godolphin bid the second-highest price ever witnessed at Book 2 of the October Yearling Sale when securing a well-bred son of Kameko from Tweenhills Farm and Stud at a cool 1,000,000gns. 

The youngster came to the ring armed with a major pedigree update as he is a full-brother to New Century, who became his sire’s first top-flight winner when landing the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine. That was not the only update in the Qatar Racing-owned colt’s profile, as he had also landed the Listed Stonehenge Stakes on his penultimate outing. 

“I think he’s a very nice horse and he’s a full-brother to a Grade 1 winner,” said Anthony Stroud, who stood beside Charlie Appleby during the bidding. 

“Kameko has had a very good start. This is a beautiful, quality horse and he’ll go to Moulton Paddocks. It’s great to have him, although the valuation was on the higher side of what we’d thought.” 

The colt is out of Potent Embrace, who joined the Tweenhills-based broodmare band when purchased by David Redvers for €150,000 at Goffs in 2016. The dam was bred and sold by Godolphin. The daughter of Street Cry has now bred two bold black-type winners as her first foal is Passion And Glory, who carried the royal blue silks to victory in eight races, most notably the Group 3 Glorious Stakes. 

New Century, pictured winning the Stonehenge Stakes, struck in Grade 1 company last time outCredit: Edward Whitaker

“He’s actually more like his dad than his brother,” Redvers said of the 1,000,000gns colt. “His brother looks a proper two-year-old but this horse, I can see him being a bit scopier really. 

"The thing in common with all of the Kamekos though is they have this incredible temperament, which is why the brother was able to go across to Canada and come back and go on to America. He takes it all so well. The mare died foaling this lad in Ireland. It was one of those cruel twists of fate, but she has left quite a parting gift.”

The transaction marked a successful return to selling at the October Sale for Tweenhills, which last sold yearlings under its own name in 2012.

The seven-figure trade is also the latest positive step in Kameko’s burgeoning stallion career. His debut juvenile crop contains ten European winners, two of which have stuck in black-type company. New Century is joined by Wimbledon Hawkeye, a comfortable winner of the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes on his latest outing. 

Despite breaking into seven-figure territory, Godolphin’s latest purchase could not quite reach the record price for Book 2, which belongs to the Listed-placed four-time winner Tarhib, a 1,050,000gns signing by Shadwell in 2019.

Read more

'There's way more emotion involved in this' - Robert Thornton thrilled as Al Shaqab and Amo go to 600,000gns for Too Darn Hot filly 

‘It’s quite moving actually – and I’ll bet you anything he wins!’ – a fairytale finale as Sir Percy’s last yearling finds a fitting home 

'That was more than I anticipated but we're very glad to get him' - Godolphin strike for 875,000gns Sea The Stars colt