Champion jockey-elect Oisin Murphy confident about Kameko’s chances at the Breeders’ Cup

Oisin Murphy says Kameko (right) put up a career-best performance on his last start when defeating Benbatl at Newmarket.

OISIN MURPHY hopes to mark a successful defence of his Flat title by recording a first Breeders’ Cup success at America’s flagship fixture on 2000 Guineas hero Kameko.

It appears the reigning champion has an unassailable lead in this year’s championship race which concludes at Doncaster tomorrow – only William Buick has a remote chance of reaching Murphy’s haul of 142 winners since June.

The 25-year-old signed off for the domestic season at Southwell on Tuesday with a quickfire double before flying off to Keeneland, Kentucky, where he believes Kameko has a favourite’s chance in the Breeders’ Cup Mile against horses of the calibre of Safe Voyage for Malton trainer John Quinn and jockey Jason Hart.

“He’s going to start favourite, and that brings pressure of its own but, but it’s good pressure because he’s regarded as the best horse in the race,” the jockey told The Yorkshire Post. “To win would be massive.

This was Kameko and Oisin Murphy after winning the 2000 Guineas. Now they hope to land the Breeders' Cup Mile.

“I’ve never had a winner in the United States and it is every jockey’s dream to have a ride at the Breeders’ Cup.

“Even though there will be no celebrities, or crowds, it is still a big deal and this has been Kameko’s target for some time.

“He’s travelled over great and the Andrew Balding team couldn’t be happier. I can’t wait.”

This will be Kameko’s final return before the Qatar Racing-owned colt takes up stallion duties at Tweenhills Stud and attempts to fill the void left by the premature death last year of their 2018 champion colt Roaring Lion.

It is almost a year since he blew his rivals away to win the Group Vertem Futurity Trophy on the Newcastle all-weather.

A week after racing’s resumption in June, he got up on the line to win the Qatar 2000 Guineas – a first domestic Classic for Murphy.

And while he ran commendably in many of the summer’s major races, Kameko only returned to winning ways last time out when conceding weight to the battle-hardened Benbatl in Newmarket’s Joel Stakes.

It was, ventured the jockey, a career-best performance that bodes well for the Breeders’ Cup provided Kameko’s inside draw does not prove too insurmountable.

“He’s an amazing horse and I would love to ride him for another year, but he has duties to fulfil at Tweenhills,” said the rider.

Murphy says he is focusing on the racing in America rather than the aforementioned Buick’s late title push in Britain.

Tonight he partners The Lir Jet, a Royal Ascot winner earlier this year, in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Fifth in in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on his last start, the Qatar Racing-owned colt will be going two furlongs further than he has been before at Keeneland.

Trained by Michael Bell, he, too, is reported to have arrived in Kentucky at the top of his game. David Redvers, racing manager for Qatar Racing, said: “Both the trainer and Oisin believe the trip won’t be an issue for him.

“He’s in very good form. He did a nice piece of work before he went out and they say he’s travelled out extremely well and is taking everything in his stride, which is half the battle.”

As reported on Wednesday, tonight’s card also sees Doncaster winner Ubettabelieveit represent North Yorkshire trainer Nigel Tinkler and jockey Rowan Scott in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

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