Premiership winning trainer Chris Waller is seriously considering running Kermadec in the Group 1 $1m The Star Epsom (1600m) at Randwick on October 3 during the 2015 Spring Carnival.
Trainer Chris Waller is considering running Doncaster Mile winner Kermadec in The Star Epsom at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Kermadec was a brilliant winner of the Group 1 $3m The Star 150th Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on the first day of ‘The Championships’ during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Carnival and Waller immediately had Spring plans in mind.
The Group 1 $3m Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24 is high on the agenda and following the doubling of The Star Epsom’s prizemoney by the Australian Turf Club this week, Waller will now consider running Kermadec in the major 1600m feature of the Sydney Spring Carnival before heading to Melbourne.
“We can’t be seen to be second tier to Melbourne in the spring,” Waller told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“A million dollar Epsom is going to keep your horses here and I might think about running Kermadec in an Epsom now.
“I wouldn’t think twice about running Kermadec in the Epsom for $400,000 or $500,000, but if it’s a million dollars it’s going to get some serious thought. Sydney deserves to see those types of horses here two or three times – not just once in the spring.
“Automatically you’re going to get five or six serious horses in the race that Sydney doesn’t get a chance to see. They’re all going to have a lead-up run and you might have 10 horses you wouldn’t normally see in Sydney up here.”
Kermadec started to shine early in the Autumn Carnival this year and finished third to Hallowed Crown in the Group 2 $200,000 Blackwoods CRC Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on February 21 before he headed to Flemington where he was a very unlucky fourth to Wandjina in the Group 1 $500,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 7.
Waller then brought the Teofilo colt back to Sydney and he ran a mighty race against the older weight for age horses, making up ground from the back to finish third to Real Impact in the Group 1 $1m George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 21.
That form proved to be very strong with Kermadec coming out and winning the Doncaster Mile at his next race start.
Kermadec is currently a $13 chance alongside of Golden Slipper winner Vancouver for the 2015 Cox Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Hong Kong star Able Friend and Godolphin’s top weight for age performer Contributer are at the top of the market order at $9 ahead of Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Criterion and Doomben Cup winner Pornichet at $10 while English galloper Arod in marked as an $11 chance.
