Kementari out to double Group 1 tally

1 year ago

Godolphin Australia head trainer James Cummings believes gifted entire Kementari will take a power of beating in Saturday's C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield, as the striking son of Lonhro chases a second Group 1 success.

Kementari notched his maiden triumph at the elite level in last year's Randwick Guineas back in March, but hasn’t won in eight subsequent starts – seven of those being G1s.

The four-year-old heads into the $500,000 feature over 1400 metres on the back of a terrific trial at Randwick on January 24.

"This is a beautiful target first up and it’s easy to imagine him being highly competitive," Cummings told Godolphin's official website.

"He’s enjoyed a very straightforward preliminary preparation, and he was able to hone in on the leader in his barrier trial."

From four first-up attempts, Kementari boasts one win and two minor placings, with his fresh victory coming this time 12 months ago in the G3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm.

Kementari has raced three times at Caulfield, for two seconds and a third – he ran third in last year's G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m), before finishing second in the G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and G1 Memsie Stakes (1400m).

Leading jockey James McDonald has the ride for the first time, with Kementari to jump from gate two.

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