Reflecting on the race, Murphy said the win “means the absolute world to me. It’s the stuff of dreams”. He said Kameko became ‘lost’ around the four furlongs but came home really well and described the horse’s performance as “gutsy”. Adding, “He hardly blew a candle out afterwards – he must have a tremendous amount of ability.”. The victory in the 2,000 has made Kameko the favourite for the Derby at Epsom on 4 July.
In Sunday’s 1,000 Guineas, Aidan O’Brien’s sole entry Love produced a commanding performance to secure a fourth win in five years at the event for the trainer. Jockey Ryan Moore charged through the centre to outpace Cloak of Spirits into second, finishing four and a quarter lengths ahead of the 12/1 shot. Previously unbeaten Quadrilateral (11-4 fav) finished third.
Victory in the 1,000 continues the remarkable story of O’Brien. Last year, the 50-year-old took three of the five Classics available and this victory is O’Brien’s sixth victory in the 1,000 Guineas overall alongside the 36 British Classic winners he has trained.
After the race, Moore said of Love, “She’s a very uncomplicated filly, and we’ve always thought a lot of her. She was in control of the race from a long way out.” The biggest surprise of the race was Quadrilateral finishing third. Ridden by 20-year-old Jason Watson, Quadrilateral failed to find her burst of pace that has become her trademark, and the three-year-old was beaten into third by a head.
The last time that Quadrilateral faced Love was in a Group One race over the same distance and course, she won by a length and three quarters with Love finishing third. Another surprise was the poor showing of Lord Lloyd-Webber’s Shimmering. A winner over a mile at Lingfield in December, the three-year-old was ridden by Frankie Dettori and finished in 11th place, a full 14 lengths behind Love.
Love’s win in the 1,000 has made her 6/4 favourite for the Oaks, bookmakers expecting O’Brien to add to his seven Oak successes.
