Time to Kement place at the top
JAMES Cummings concedes Kementari’s reputation has been built mainly on potential and “it’s now time for us to find out what he’s made of”.
Kementari has been a boom horse since his four-length romp over 1400m at Randwick on May 27.
He hasn’t raced since and Cummings admits he will get an idea of where he sits in the big picture when he returns in Saturday’s Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill.
“He’s trialled up nicely and he’s had a very solid grounding for his first-up run,” Cummings said.
“He’s likely to start around third favourite among horses like Menari and Pariah who both returned with slashing first-up wins over 1100m.
“He’s also going to be ahead of others in the market who are pretty accomplished, like Chauffeur.
“If he’s in the mix against these horses first-up, then I’d say he’s going to improve sharply over the 1400m second-up.
“But he still has the speed to be with them on Saturday.
“It’s all a game with him. He oozes quality and there’s certainly something left in the tank for the future.”
Kementari drew barrier seven yesterday with Menari to jump from the outside gate in the 11-horse field. Pariah will jump from barrier three.
Kementari headlines a number of interesting runners for Godolphin at Rosehill. Ghisoni, who hasn’t raced since June 2016, makes her return in the Group 3 Sheraco Stakes (1200m).
“She’s trialled very well and has had an excellent preparation,” Cummings said.
“She’s been in and out of the stables as part of her rehabilitation from the setback she suffered.
“I picked out the Sheraco as a beautiful reintroduction to racing without having to put her under too much pressure.
“But it’s looking like a toptier mares’ race, so this will certainly give us an indication of just how well Ghisoni has returned.”
Godolphin will also be represented by Sanctioned in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes .
QUEENSLAND jockey Damian Browne will fly to Singapore on Sunday to partner Elite Excalibur in the Group 3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m) at Kranji.
The horse is trained by Browne’s friend, former Victorian trainer Cliff Brown.