Talented three-year-olds Kermadec and Sweynesse will contest the 2015 Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick this afternoon following the scratchings of It’s Somewhat and Moriarty.
Kermadec has the chance to record a maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2015 Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick this afternoon. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Connections of the two horses were thrilled on Saturday when It’s Somewhat and Moriarty were initially scratched from the Doncaster Mile, but the postponement of the meeting at Royal Randwick meant that the duo went back into final field and Sweynesse and Kermadec went back to their original positions as first and second emergencies.
Racing New South Wales stewards reported yesterday that It’s Somewhat was found with a normal temperature and was passed fit to contest the race, but trainer John O’Shea elected to scratch the imported galloper this morning.
“We’ll see how it is in the next 24 hours,” O’Shea told The Newcastle Herald yesterday.
“I want to do what is right by both horses.”
Trainer Chris Waller said earlier in the week that he was not keen to risk Moriarty on a wet track in the Doncaster Mile due to his poor form on that sort of going and he confirmed that the imported galloper would head to Queensland for the 2015 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.
“The first concern would be the wet track for him, if it was a wet track I’d save him,” Waller said.
“He has had nine runs on soft and heavy for one placing many years ago.
“He’s no good on it and I’m not going to break his heart.
“He will go straight to Queensland if he needs to.”
Kermadec has been unable to record race win this preparation, but he has stamped himself as one of the most promising three-year-olds in the country with a string of unlucky efforts in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 21, the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on March 7 and the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
Sweynesse will be dropping back from 2000 metres to 1600 metres for the Doncaster Mile this afternoon after he finished a disappointing fourth after being well-backed in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21, but he produced good efforts to finish second in both the Hobartville Stakes and the and the Group 1 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m).
Kermadec is currently available at 2015 Doncaster Mile odds of $7.50, while Sweynesse is priced at a quote of $15 to record a maiden win at Group 1 level.
