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Thursday 2 July 2020

Andrew Balding's Derby Dream

If there is one race any thoroughbred horse trainer would love to win it has to be the Epsom Derby.

It has to be the pinnacle of racing triumph for owner, trainer, jockey, and even bring a smile to the face of those lucky punters who won a few quid on the big race. That thought leads nicely to a story which connects a generation of horse trainers and the reason Andrew Balding has a dream of winning this historic race. 

On Saturday, July 4th at 4:55pm Park House Stables may well be having a double celebration if Kameko ran beat sixteen opponents and emulate the success of his father Ian who trained the Epsom Derby winner in 1971 when Mill Reef stormed clear of the field for Geoff Lewis and owner Paul Mellon. Mill Reef was an exceptionally talented thoroughbred who won 12 of his 14 races, finishing 2nd on two starts and crowned a champion horse in consecutive years and noted sire in Great Britain and Ireland. 

Kameko has raced just five times in his two and three-year-old career but already marked a potential superstar of racing after making his return to racing in June and winning the 2000 Guineas. 

Even after almost 50-years, the thought of living up to his father's success is ambition, Andrew Balding is looking forward to realising a dream of trainer and horse across the decades and generations. 

Kameko, a strapping son of Kitten's Joy out of a three-time winning mare could herald a magical moment in the career of this young trainer and connections Qatar Racing Limited.

Good luck to connections and those who are betting on Kameko to triumph in this fascinating race and story.