Premier trainer Chris Waller believes that the George Ryder Stakes is the right race for Kermadec who is back in Sydney following an unlucky fourth in the Group 1 $500,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington two weeks ago.
Kermadec will take on the older horses in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Sarah Ebbett.
Kermadec was sent out the favourite for the Australian Guineas but was held up for a run in the straight before flashing home for fourth to Wandjina and even though he was beaten, Waller will stick to his plan and take on the older horses in the Group 1 $1m George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
“Kermadec, it is the right race for him,” Waller said.
“It was always our plan if he had won the Australian Guineas but he didn’t.”
Waller had the option of taking on the three year olds again in the Group 1 $500,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) this weekend but felt a run in the weight for age George Ryder Stakes would be a better lead up run heading towards the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick in a fortnight on the first day of ‘The Championships’.
“If he is to win a Doncaster he has to be running a good race here,” Waller said.
“I am just hoping he can sneak into the Doncaster field because I feel this is the right race for him.”
“I’m surprised to see a few others go to the Rosehill guineas on root to the Doncaster. This year it is only a two week gap. It is hard bringing them back from 2000m.”
Rosehill Guineas favourite Hallowed Crown is one of those three year olds who will have to come back from 2000m to the 1600m of the Doncaster Mile but trainer James Cummings feels that is the right path for his colt.
Hong Kong based Nash Rawiller took the blame for Kermadec’s Australian Guineas defeat and has been replaced by globetrotting super English jockey Ryan Moore.
Moore showed Australian punters why he is regarded as one of the best jockeys in the world with wins on Adelaide in the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley and Protectionist in the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington during the 2014 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Kermadec had a serious workout on Tuesday morning on the course proper at Rosehill, galloping over 1000m in 1.8.04, with sectionals of 37.97 seconds for the final 600m and his last 200m in 12.56 seconds.
On Thursday the Teofilo colt had an easier time clocking 1.14 for the 1000m on the inside grass.
Kermadec is well fancied in the market order for the George Ryder Stakes and has firmed in slightly from $6.50 to $6 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Rival three year old Shooting To Win heads the betting at $4.80 ahead of the Gai Waterhouse trained Cosmic Endeavour at $5 with the Japanese galloper World Ace also well in contention at $7.
Tough Group 1 performer Criterion and Godolphin’s English import It’s Somewhat share the next line of betting at $10.
Waller will saddle up six runners in the George Ryder Stakes and apart from Kermadec, the others are at long odds.
Sacred Falls is the best of the rest at $16 with Weary and Royal Descent at $34, Moriarty is at $51 and I’m Imposing is the outsider of the Waller team at $91.
