All in order for Kementari to produce his best in Randwick G1

The quest to return Kementari to winning form continues in Saturday’s G1 Canterbury Stakes at Randwick with trainer James Cummings satisfied the horse is primed and ready.

One of the more talented members of the Cummings’ team, Kementari (James McDonald) has been the victim of misfortune and circumstances in the 12 months since he won the G1 Randwick Guineas on this program last year.

The horse’s form is not anything to be ashamed of. Kementari followed the Guineas win with a third placing behind Winx and Happy Clapper, one of four G1 placings in the past year, the most recent at his last start in the CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield when beaten a half-length.

Cummings faith in the colt is undiminished.

“This is a beautiful second-up target and he should find this distance right in his comfort zone,” the trainer said.

“He’ll enjoy a good contest here and he has every opportunity to demonstrate his great turn of foot against this high standard of opposition.”

“He’s refreshed nicely since his solid first-up effort at Caulfield and he looks a picture.”

Those opponents include the three-year-old Brutal who is the winner of three of his only four starts, the G1-winning filly Shoals, and G1-winning colts Pierata and Trapeze Artist.

Winning form is something the stable’s leading two-year-old filly Exhilarates (Kerrin McEvoy) has plenty of - and she can to add to it in the G2 Reisling Stakes.

Exhilarates scored brilliantly in the $2m Magic Millions 2YO Classic at her latest outing in January and returns to the track in similar form.   

“She’s muscled up again after we backed off on her following that high-pressure race in the Magic Millions,” Cummings said.

“I’m really pleased with the way she’s responded in the lead-up to what will be her semi-final ahead of the Golden Slipper. “

“We gave her a solid test in a trial at Canterbury last week and she was powerful to the line.”

Exhilarates is accompanied in the Reisling by stablemate Tenley (James McDonald), a winner at her only two starts.

“This is a filly who has done nothing wrong and would be a serious player if she continues to improve as a competitive chance in the Reisling Stakes on Saturday.” Cummings said.

“She has something about her, and that finishing burst that she can produce is something that could take her a long way.”

In the colts’ division, the G2 Todman Stakes, Bivouac  (James McDonald) gets the opportunity to confirm the form from his last start win and establish himself as  G1 Golden Slipper contender. 

“He’s continued to go ahead since showing vast improvement to win a Listed race last start,” Cummings said.

“There were a couple of good ones behind him that day including Time To Reign who came out and won at his next start.”