Qatar Racing Hosts Competition To Name Trio Of Kameko Juveniles

The first crop by Qatar Racing’s record-breaking classic winner, Kameko, will be seen on the racecourse this year and Qatar Racing’s social media followers have the unique opportunity to name two fillies and one colt who will run in the operation’s famous claret and gold silks.

• Kameko filly out of Con Te Partiro in training with John and Thady Gosden
• Kameko filly out of Ripples Maid in training with James Ferguson
• Kameko colt out of Quads in training with Archie Watson

Bought as a yearling for $90,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale and subsequently trained by Andrew Balding at Kingsclere, the son of multiple U.S. champion turf sire, Kitten’s Joy, Kameko became a Group 1-winning 2-year-old when landing the 2019 Group 1 Futurity Stakes, in the fastest time in the history of the race.

Kameko’s 3-year-old career continued in emphatic style. He became a classic winner when breaking the record as the fastest QIPCO 2000 Guineas winner in history. He also won the G2 Joel Stakes, before retiring to stand at Tweenhills Stud in Gloucestershire.

Kameko’s first crop of yearlings lit up the sales rings, selling for up to €310,000 and averaging over four times his fee.

Trainers of Kameko’s first 2-year-olds include Andrew Balding, Archie Watson, Ed Bethell, Ed Dunlop, Ed Walker, Eve Johnson Houghton, Hugo Palmer, James Ferguson, John and Thady Gosden, Kevin Ryan, Rae Guest, Richard Hannon, Roger Varian, Simon & Ed Crisford, William Haggas, etc.

Trainer James Ferguson said: “The Kameko ex Ripples Maid filly has impressed me since the day she stepped into the yard. She's an incredibly strong, robust filly who looks like she will certainly be enjoying a couple of races at two. Everything that we've asked her to do so far she's done with tremendous ease and I'm thoroughly looking forward to getting her out on the track. We’re probably looking to start her over six furlongs unless in her fast work she tells us differently. We will start increasing her work over the next couple of weeks.”

The competition winners will be selected by Sheikh Fahad, Chairman of Qatar Racing, and David Redvers. The prize will include two tickets for the opening day of the QIPCO Guineas Festival which commences on Friday, May 3, 2024.

David Redvers, Qatar Racing’s Racing Manager said: “Kameko was an outstanding racehorse and has been very well received as a stallion. It’s very exciting for Sheikh Fahad, his brothers and the Qatar Racing operation. We are all very much looking forward to seeing his first crop on the track this year.

“The names should reflect Kameko’s class and the 2-year-old’s high-quality pedigree. We look forward to going through the entries. Fingers crossed – you could be naming future champions.”

How to enter:

1. Follow Qatar Racing on social media:

Twitter: @Qatar_Racing

Instagram: @qatarracingltd

1. Reply to any of the social media posts with your name suggestion

Names must be clean and no longer than 18 characters

1. Entries opened Sunday, March 17 and close midnight Sunday, March 24, 2024
2. Winners announced week commencing Monday, April 1, 2024