Newcastle Friday

KAMEKO ran out an impressive winner of the rescheduled Group 1 Vertem Futurity Stakes at Newcastle last night.

Originally due to be the centrepiece of last Saturday’s abandoned fixture at Doncaster, the Group 1 event was swiftly rescheduled to be run at Gosforth Park – making it the first ever top-level contest staged on the all-weather in Britain.

The son of Kitten’s Joy, also sire of Qatar Racing’s star Roaring Lion, hit the front two out and went clear of a line of Ballydoyle runners. Innisfree put down a challenge over a furlong out but could never get on terms. He held on to take second ahead of Year Of The Tiger.

Winning trainer Andrew Balding, saddling his second Group 1 winner of the season, said. “I was relieved when they switched it here. Oisin hit the front too soon in the Royal Lodge. He’s a very good horse and I’m so looking forward to next year.

“Thrilled. It’s my first domestic Group 1 in a long time. He’s by the same sire as Roaring Lion, this is a brilliant but he has a way to go,” said winning rider Oisin Murphy.

Ballydoyle’s Mogul was a disappointing fourth and favourite Kinross took fifth.