Kameko sprung a major surprise by landing the first British Classic of the year in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
Most of the pre-race talk had centred around the unbeaten Pinatubo, who had won all six of his starts as a juvenile to pick up the highest rating for a two-year-old for 25 years.
However, Andrew Balding‘s Kameko was there to challenge the 5/6 favourite with a furlong to run, and Charlie Appleby’s charge could not respond.
Kameko stayed on well with Aidan O’Brien‘s Wichita taking up the challenge but the former held on to win by a neck, with Pinatubo a length further back in third.
Balding appears to have no qualms about testing Kameko in the Derby, despite the longer trip.
Balding said: “To me it looks the obvious choice, there would be a stamina doubt but there’s only one way to find out.
“We have to let David (Redvers, racing manager), Sheikh Fahad and Oisin all put in their opinions. I would be slightly reluctant to run him back at Ascot personally, so we will see what is on offer for him. He will certainly get a mile and a quarter, but there is a certain race over a mile and a half in July that would be quite appealing.”
