Kementari unleashes power finish for third in G1 Manikato Stakes

Kementari ran one of the best races of his career to come from near last to finish third in the G1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday, 26 October.

With the high-speed runners going strong in the first half of the race, Kementari began making ground from the 600m and was the widest of the 14 runners turning into the short Moonee Valley straight.

Kementari then unleashed a powerful finish and was quickly gathering in the winner Brave Smash and runner-up Spirit Of Valour to be beaten by three-quarters of a length.

The son of Lonhro has now been placed four times at G1 level and is also the winner of the G1 Randwick Guineas last autumn.

Trainer James Cummings said he was proud of his horse’s performance and that Kementari had justified the decision to switch him back from the 1600m of his previous run in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes, to the 1200m of tonight’s event.

“He’s shown that he’s a really good sprinter-miler, we’re very proud of him,” he said.

Brave Smash is a winner up to 1600m in Stakes company in Japan and last season won the G1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield.