ONE of the big questions heading in to this year’s Investec Derby is whether or not Kameko will stay the mile-and-a-half at Epsom.
And even his trainer Andrew Balding doesn’t know whether his Guineas winner has what it takes.
It’s an extra half-a-mile on top of what Kameko faced in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket – but he was hitting the line the strongest there.
Balding has delved into the horses’ pedigree hoping to find encouragement, but turned down the chance to go to Epsom for a gallop in the lead up to the big race.
He said: “Obviously there is no way of knowing if he’ll stay the trip until you try.
“The figures show he’s very talented. The whole point of the Guineas and the Derby is that one is a test of speed and the other a test of temperament, stamina and agility. We’ve passed the speed test, now we’ve to pass the other.
“My dad (Ian Balding) was saying ‘why not gallop him over a mile and a half’ which is what they did in those days – Mill Reef did it between running in the Guineas and the Derby – but you can’t find it out at home, you’ve got to suck it and see.
“If he doesn’t stay, he doesn’t stay, and we’ll drop him back in trip, but he relaxes very well. Kitten’s Joy is deemed an influence of stamina in America, although obviously it’s a different style of racing.
“There are hints in his pedigree – Alderbrook is in the family, and he won a Champion Hurdle.
“It’s mixed messages in the pedigree, but the key thing for me is that he relaxes really well – which has got to give him a chance. It’s an extra half-mile, but he was hitting the line strongest of all in the Guineas.”
Another of the talking points leading to Epsom has surrounded the jockey bookings after Frankie Dettori ‘jocked-off’ Tom Marquand on favourite English King.
But Balding has offered Marquand the chance to shine on another horse, with his Goodwood winner Khalifa Sat an intended runner.
Balding added: “We’re also running Khalifa Sat, who won the Cocked Hat Stakes.
“He’s a horse we think an awful lot of – as long as the ground is fast, he’ll run. Tom rode him at Goodwood, and we’ve offered him the ride. I believe he’ll be riding him.
“Like any Derby, there’ll be 13 or 14 runners, and you wouldn’t fall over in amazement if any of them won.
“The only reason Khalifa Sat might beat Kameko is if he doesn’t stay. As talented as he is, Kameko has different gears to any horse I’ve ever trained.”
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