Kementari races to the top in G2 Hobartville win

Kementari has raced his way into the top rank of Australia’s three-year-olds with a spectacular victory in the G2 Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday, 24 February.

And with more improvement to come from the son of Lonhro, he could be on the way to establishing himself as the leading member of an outstanding crop when he contests next month’s G1 Randwick Guineas.

Kementari arrived at Saturday’s race with a point to prove, according to his trainer James Cummings.

“This was the biggest test he’s faced and he handled it brilliantly,” Cummings said.

“He ‘s backed up after a sizzling first-up win and beaten some top line horses at level weights.”

Jockey Glyn Schofield sent Kementari forward after the jump to be outside the leader Trapeze Artist, maintaining the pressure on that colt until entering the straight.

“He was there to be beaten after racing outside the leader, who is a G1 winner in his own right,” Cummings said.

“We know he’s probably a better horse when ridden from behind, but he also has the athleticism and versatility to be put on the pace as he was today.”

With 250m to run, Schofield called for a supreme effort and Kementari produced another brilliant response, galloping clear to win by a length from Pierata who held second just ahead of D’Argento.

Cummings will now turn his attention toward the G1 target he’s had in mind ever since Kementari began his three-year-old season last spring.

“Everything will remain normal for him, the Randwick Guineas is his target and we might look at another G1 after that,” he said.

Kementari’s win was the pinnacle on a day that produced three more Stakes placings for the Godolphin team.

In Sydney the two-year-old Gongs finished third in the G2 Silver Slipper behind the filly Sunlight who has emerged as the horse to beat in next month’s G1 Golden Slipper.

Future prospects also appear strong for another of the stable’s classy three-year-old’s Astoria who was second in the G2 Autumn Classic at Caulfield, while Hartnell was third in the G2 Peter Young Stakes at the same track.

Cummings said he was delighted with Astoria’s performance from a G1 ATC Derby point of view.

“He’s continuing to build which is the way I’d want a stayer to progress,” he said.

Hartnell was having the second run of his preparation, having won the G1 Orr Stakes at his first, when third behind the former French galloper Gailo Chop and Single Gaze, a performance Cummings said would have him in good shape for a return bout with the winner in the G1 Australian Cup.

“The jockey was happy with him and I’m looking forward to seeing him over a bit more ground in the Australian Cup.”

Hartnell will now return to Sydney to prepare for that race, run at Flemington on Saturday, 10 March.