Godolphin’s head trainer James Cummings has Kementari forward enough to kick off his 2018 Spring Carnival campaign but admits that the talented four year old will be improved by his first up run in the 2018 Group 2 $200,000 Mostyn Copper Group Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Kementari, above, will kick off his 2018 Spring Carnival campaign in the Missile Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Cummings is hoping for a bold performance from Kementari to put him into contention of securing one of the vacant slots in the $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 13.
“This is a really important test for him,” Cummings said.
“This is a good enough field to see what sort of performance we can get from him at 1200 metres at this stage of his career.”
Kementari has had two barrier trials in preparation for his return to the race track and Cummings can see the Missile Stakes as a very important stepping stone into the Spring.
“While he’s not yet fully wound up, he’s nevertheless capable of running very well fresh,” Cummings said.
“He’s done well in his break and he’s had a solid preliminary preparation in the lead-up to this and looks ready to race as a stronger version of himself this campaign.”
“While I can see him not being completely at his best, I think the horse is in great shape and ready to run a very good race, he’ll be really winding up nicely.”
Kementari was one of the star three year olds during the 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival with a hat trick of wins in the in the Group 3 $150,000 Aquis Farm Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm, the Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill and in the Group 1 $1m Mostyn Copper Group Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick.
The son of Lonhro then took on the older gallopers with Brenton Avdulla in the saddle for a third in the Group 1 $1m The Agency George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill and a tenth in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick before heading for a break.
Glyn Schofield was aboard Kementari for his hat trick of wins in the Autumn and is back in the saddle in the Missile Stakes and the Lonhro stallion will jump from barrier four in the ten horse field.
Kementari has been installed the $2 favourite for the Missile Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Pierata at $4.20 and Music Magnate at $8.50.
Pierata could also be in line for a slot in The Everest with a good first up effort but will have to get past Kementari after running second to him twice during the Autumn Carnival in the Hobartville Stakes and the Randwick Guineas.
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