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| Staff Writer |
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New Century, the promising Qatar Racing-owned colt, is being eyed for a potential Breeders' Cup tilt following his impressive Listed success at Salisbury last week.
The Andrew Balding-trained youngster, a son of Group One winner Kameko, led from pillar to post in the three-runner Gr.3 Stonehenge Stakes, cementing his status as a smart prospect for the operation.
Qatar Racing's racing manager, David Redvers, is relishing the prospect of bigger tests for New Century, with a trip to Del Mar for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf firmly on the radar. "It was a very important win for the operation at Salisbury and very pleasing for everybody," Redvers enthused.
"He's a horse with what looks like a big future and a great advert for his sire."
Sheikh Fahad, principal of Qatar Racing, is currently in discussions with Balding regarding the colt's immediate future. "At the moment, Sheikh Fahad is discussing all sorts of options for him, including the Breeders' Cup," Redvers revealed.
"I think the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf is a race Sheikh Fahad is very keen to target with him."
New Century's rise to prominence this season has been marked by wins at Doncaster and Salisbury, complemented by two creditable performances behind the high-class Al Qudra. His Salisbury victory, coming off the back of these solid efforts, has connections dreaming big for the remainder of the campaign.
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, a US$1,000,000 contest run over one mile on turf, has been a happy hunting ground for European raiders in recent years. Should New Century make the trip, he would be following in the footsteps of previous British-trained winners such as Line of Duty and Modern Games.
As the autumn campaign unfolds, all eyes will be on Kingsclere to see how Balding maps out New Century's path to a potential date with destiny at Del Mar in November. With his sire Kameko having excelled on both sides of the Atlantic, hopes are high that New Century can continue the family tradition of top-level success.