Kinshachi and Maternal ready for G1 assignment

The elevation from Listed grade a week ago to the top level on Saturday is as significant as it looks for the Godolphin pair Kinshachi and Maternal at Doomben.

But trainer Darren Beadman is more than happy to see both tackle the classy field of fillies and mares that will do battle for the final G1 race of the Australian season.

Kinshachi and Maternal ran outstanding races from wide gates to dominate the Listed Gai Waterhouse Stakes last weekend with the latter just shading the former on the line.

But with Maternal only making the emergency acceptor list in Saturday’s race, it is likely that Kinshachi (Michael Cahill) will be the sole representative.

“Before last week’s race I was having trouble splitting them, and they both ran fantastic races with Maternal just getting up on the line,” Beadman said.

“Kinshachi has pulled through well from last week’s run. If there was any doubt at all, she wouldn’t be running.

“I’m confident she can back up well, she’s drawn a good gate and this is clearly her toughest test to date. But she deserves her chance at this level.

“With Maternal we just have to wait for a scratching and hope she gets a run.”

Also at Doomben, the talented sprinter Mogador (Corey Brown) caries the Godolphin royal blue in the G3 WJ Healey Stakes with Beadman making a change to his gear in a bid to encourage a return to form.

“He’s drawn wide, but we’ve taken the blinkers off and I’d expect him to settle back a bit, so it shouldn’t be critical,” the trainer said.

“His work has been first class this week and if he runs up to it he’ll be looking like the winner at some point.”