Kementari ready for new-season debut at Randwick

A bigger and better version of an already outstanding colt will be on show when Kementari steps out for his four-year-old debut at Randwick on Saturday, 4 August.

Kementari (James Cummings/Glyn Schofield) runs in the G2 Missile Stakes, a race that is likely to be more of a guide to the future than a major target a campaign that may well include the world’s richest race on turf, the A$13 million The Everest.

“This is a really important test for him,” Cummings said.

“While he’s not yet fully wound up, he’s nevertheless capable of running very well fresh. 

“He’s done well in his break and he’s had a solid preliminary preparation in the lead-up to this and looks ready to race as a stronger version of himself this campaign.”

“While I can see him not being completely at his best, I think the horse is in great shape and ready to run a very good race, he’ll be really winding up nicely.

“This is a good enough field to see what sort of performance we can get from him at 1200 metres at this stage of his career.”

Kementari emerged as one of Australia’s best three-year-old colts last autumn, winning the G1 Randwick Guineas, defeating Trapeze Artist and one of his main Missile Stakes opponents, Pierata.

That was the third win on end for the son of Lonhro, coming on top of victory in the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes and the G2 Hobartville Stakes.

He followed it with a third placing behind the world’s best racehorse, Winx, in the G1 George Ryder Stakes before finishing unplaced against older horses in the G1 Doncaster Handicap.

While he has shown potential as a middle-distance performer with his Randwick Guineas win and with last spring’s close second in the G1 Caulfield Guineas, the Godolphin team is considering The Everest, run over 1200m at Randwick on 13 October, as a possible target.

As well as Pierata, the Missile Stakes field includes the seasoned performer Music Magnate who was racing well enough in the autumn to earn himself a place in the field for the G1 Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night at Meydan, and the 2017 G1 Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign.