Kementari thrives in Perth
GODOLPHIN’S travelling foreman Nacim Dilmi could be forgiven for feeling like a nomadic gypsy given how he has spread his wings this year.
But he believes a change of scenery for Kementari will bring out the best in the enigmatic galloper on Saturday.
Dilmi and wife Lauren are in Perth with Kementari who will contend for the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) on Saturday, and Trekking who is the favourite for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes seven days later.
The Perth trip is the third time this year French horseman Dilmi has had to quarantine due to the COVID pandemic as he has also been on the ground for Godolphin during the
Adelaide and Brisbane carnivals.
He has seen a few changes of scenery in that time but believes the one currently being experienced by Kementari will bring out the best in the galloper who has not won since his Randwick Guineas triumph in March 2018.
Many punters have sacked James Cummings-trained Kementari, who warmed up for a Railway Stakes tilt with a third-placed finish behind fellow Railway contender Kay Cee in the Group 2 Lee Steere Stakes at Ascot on November 7.
But Kementari, along with stablemate Trekking, has now spent time frolicking in the waters of Perth’s beautiful Kwinana Beach and Dilmi believes that has made a big difference to the six-year-old.
“Kementari has spent a lot of time in Sydney and Melbourne but coming here to Perth for him is a completely different environment,” Dilmi said.
“The weather is great and he absolutely loves going to the beach here, he just power walks through the water.
“We can’t take them to the beach as often in Sydney and Melbourne and for Kementari’s mind I think some extra beach time has done him really well.
“The improvement in him since he had his first run in Perth is amazing, he looks magnificent and he has improved coat wise and how he is in his mind is also much better.”
Kementari is being stabled with Perth trainer Neville Parnham.