Kementari out to enhance Guineas prospects

Godolphin prospects in the first classic of the Australian season are bound to become clearer following the performances of Kementari and Esperance in Sunday’s G3 Guineas Prelude at Caulfield.

Long regarded as one of the Australian stables more promising colts, Kementari comes to this 1400m race backed by the confidence of the training team and attractive form in his lead up race, the G2 Run To The Rose.

“This race is in a distance range that should really suit him on what he showed us first-up in the Run To The Rose where he was taking ground off them late in what was a very high-rating race,” said trainer James Cummings.

“We decided to bypass the Golden Rose and focus on Melbourne and get some experience at Caulfield before the Guineas. If he does a few little things wrong on Saturday we’ll be able to forgive him.

“But he certainly gets the opportunity to run a very good race leading up to the Guineas. I’d like to see the horse deliver on some of the promise he started the preparation off with.”

“I would expect him to run very well because he’s had the right timing between runs and if he can toughen up between now and the Guineas then he’s certainly a contender.”

Kementari (Kerrin McEvoy) was having only his third start when fourth to Menari in the Run To The Rose and far from disgraced himself.

Before that he had finished off his first preparation with a four-length victory at set weights in a two-year-old event in May.

The colt had a familiarisation tour of Caulfield on Tuesday, working with talented stablemate Esperance and coming through the experience in fine style.

“His gallop at Caulfield was very encouraging and the trip across town from the Flemington stable should keep him sharp,” Cummings said.

Like Kementari, Esperance (Glyn Schofield) comes to the Prelude at his fourth start, having won on debut by a wide margin and followed up with a midweek city win before finding the class a bit strong in the G2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington last time.

“We thought he put in a solid run in the Danehill where he produced one of the fastest closing sectionals of the race after being a bit lost in the first half, racing without cover.”

The G1 Caulfield Guineas is run over 1600m on October 7.