Kementari out to add to Godolphin’s G1 spring on Friday night

Kementari returns to sprint racing in Friday night’s G1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley revitalised and ready to add to Godolphin’s impressive spring campaign.

One of Australia’s best three-year-olds during a season in which he won the G1 Randwick Guineas, Kementari returned to racing at four with targets at 1600m and possibly longer in sight.

While his form in four runs this campaign has been strong, he is yet to salute the judge, but trainer James Cummings is satisfied the son of Lonhro is ready to rectify that in the Manikato.

“I’m confident he’s got that strength again and he’s ready to run very, very well as a fresh horse over 1200m,” Cummings said.

“Good horses run well at Moonee Valley and he’s one of the best horses we have in the stable.

“When the pressure goes on genuinely, I think he’ll respond.”

“We’re going to saddle him up on Friday night with a lot of confidence that he’s going to perform very well.”

Kementari resumed racing in August with a first-up second to Pierata in the G2 Missile Stakes and followed with three G1 runs, including a narrow defeat in the G1 Memsie Stakes.

Following that run he returned to Godolphin’s training base in Sydney.

“When we got the horse back home after the Makybe Diva he was good, but not as good as he can be,” Cummings explained.

“But he thrived and he bulked up and started looking like the sharp sprinter-miler he was growing into at the end his three-year-old year.”

“We felt that weight-for-age racing was best for him and the Manikato is a time-honoured race that gives him an excellent opportunity to look good again.”

Kementari drew barrier 12, three from the outside, but Cummings is unperturbed.

“There looks to be plenty of speed drawn inside, so if it does become a swoopers race then he won’t be locked away on the inside,” he said.

“I’d rather be five-wide on the turn than boxed up on the fence and not getting a run.”

“I’m confident he’s got that strength again and he’s ready to run very, very well as a fresh horse over 1200m.”

Among Kementari’s opponents are G1 July Cup winner US Navy Flag, Spirit Of Valour, Intelligent Cross and Fleet Review, all from the Aiden O’Brien stable.

But it is likely to be the local filly Sunlight who will be the hardest to beat.