Mile dash is better fit for Kameko

CHAMPION jockey Oisin Murphy believes a drop back in trip to a mile will help 2000 Guineas hero Kameko as he prepares to lock horns with Benbatl in the Shadwell Joel Stakes at Newmarket.

Andrew Balding’s Kameko provided Murphy, this season’s titleleading rider, with his first Classic success over the course and distance in early June.

The coming- of- age win followed the colt’s inaugural Group One win at the end of last season in the Vertem Futurity Trophy on the Newcastle all- weather.

But Murphy also knows the Saeed bin Suroor- trained Benbatl well, having steered him to two of his three Group One wins to date, and when he dominated from the front in this Group Two contest 12 months ago.

Murphy said: “Benbatl is one of the highest- rated horses in the world and Kameko is a Classic winner who ran the fastest ever Guineas, so it’s a mouthwatering prospect.

“It will be hard for Kameko with the penalty – we have to give Benbatl 1lb – but there were limited options and he’s in super form and ready to run.

“I obviously love Benbatl. I only raced against him once and that was in the Juddmonte International when I won on Roaring Lion.

“I’ve ridden Benbatl in work recently as well and he’s also in super form.”

Kameko has plied his trade over a variety of different trips since his Guineas triumph – finishing fourth over a mile and a half in the Derby, over a mile in the Sussex Stakes and over a mile and a quarter in the Juddmonte International.

Murphy feels the return to a mile will see him at his best in what is a prep race for next month’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot.

Murphy added: “He travelled very well in the Sussex and got into second place in the Juddmonte, having sat last, and then his run petered out at the line. Hopefully the ground continues to dry today – both he and Benbatl want top of the ground.”

Following last year’s success, Benbatl floundered in the mud in the QEII at Ascot, but he bounced back with successive wins in Dubai earlier this year.

Benbatl missed his intended comeback in last month’s Celebration Mile due to the prevailing rain- softened ground at Goodwood – and Bin Suroor is keeping his fingers crossed conditions on the Rowley Mile are not too testing.

The horse will be ridden by Frankie Dettori in a significant ride for Godolphin – he enjoyed success around the world for Sheikh Mohammed’s racing operation before a parting of the ways at the end of the 2012 season.

Yet Bin Suroor often overlooks Godolphin’s retained riders and this is another significant instance. He said: “Benbatl is doing good. It’s a tough race, but he won it last year and it’s the right race for him.”

■ Karl Burke’s Royal Ascot heroine Dandalla will face eight rivals in tomorrow’s Group One Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket for fillies.

Unbeaten so far, the Albany winner has not been seen since winning the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at Newmarket in early July.

Her main market rival is Ken Condon’s Miss Amulet, who will be sporting new silks since winning at York.

She has been bought by Doreen Tabor, wife of Coolmore’s Michael Tabor, so Ryan Moore now takes the ride.

I’ve ridden Benbatl in work recently – he’s also in super form. Kameko’s jockey Oisin Murphy on his Newmarket rival.