Chetwood on G1 Autumn path

The Autumn campaign of the talented sprinter Chetwood took further shape in an impressive trial victory at Randwick on Thursday that suggested the G1 targets the stable has in mind are within range.

One of Godolphin’s most lively prospects from last Spring when he won four races on end, culminating in the Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes at Caulfield in early October, Chetwood’s trial performance indicated he has returned to training in similar form.

Trainer John O’Shea has a Melbourne program planned for Chetwood who is likely to resume in the G2 Australia Stakes over 1200m, a race won last year by his stablemate Holler, at Moonee Valley on January 27.

Godolphin Australia managing director Henry Plumptre said the major goals for Chetwood would then be the G1 CF Orr Stakes and the G1 Futurity Stakes, both run over the Caulfield 1400m in February.

“The Orr Stakes can be a race that a lot of horses use on their way to something longer, so it could be a very nice race for a horse like Chetwood who is well-suited at 1400 metres,” Plumptre said.

“The Futurity is a natural progression from there and he has the advantage of having won at Caulfield.”

Chetwood stamped his class in his trial, taking a wide path throughout on the heavy track and cruising to a 1-1/2 length win under jockey Hugh Bowman.

In other trials on a program eventually halted by steady rain and a shifting track, the two-year-old gelding Eusebio was comfortable in the conditions, showing good tractability and scoring convincingly.

Another impressive performer was the unraced two-year-old Kementari, a half-brother by Lonhro to the good colt Telperion who was fourth in last year’s G1 Golden Slipper.

Kementari was held together near the rear of the field for most of his 1000m trial but strode to the line strongly to finish second when given the slightest encouragement from rider James Doyle.