Zac Purton is certain that Kermadec will strip a much fitter race horse this week and has a great chance to claim back to back wins in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Kermadec will strip a lot fitter in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Chris Waller trained Kermadec with Glen Boss in the saddle was able to score a comfortable one and three quarter lengths wins with only 51kg on his back in last year’s Doncaster Mile.
Purton was aboard Kermadec last start when second to Winx with 59kg in the weight for age Group 1 $1m China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 19 and will drop to 57kg this week, meeting Winx 1.5kg better at the weights.
The Hong Kong based jockey is looking for a further fitness improvement from Kermadec after he had a good blow following the George Ryder Stakes and is hoping he can turn the tables on his glamour stablemate on the first day of ‘The Championships‘.
“I think he can. He pulled up having a big blow after his last run and he’ll be fitter this time and gets a slight swing in the weights against Winx,” Purton told justhorseracing.com.au.
“It’s always a great race and this year will be no different”
“I was very happy, he looked a winning chance at the 200 metres but Winx was too good that day.”
The Doncaster Mile will be Kermadec’s third Autumn Carnival run following his first up effort when third to Holler in the Group 1 $500,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on March 5 before his George Ryder Stakes second.
Purton will be chasing his second win in Randwick’s famous Autumn Carnival feature mile race after winning on the Waller trained Sacred Falls in 2014.
Glamour mare Winx is dominating the Doncaster Mile betting and is a $1.90 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au with Kermadec the only other runner under double figures at $7.50.
Doncaster Mile market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.90 Winx, $7.50 Kermadec, $11 Azkadellia, Happy Clapper, $14 Bow Creek, $16 First Seal, $21 Turn Me Loose, $26 Volkstok’N’Barrell, Good Project, He Or She, $51 Stratum Star, $61 Ecuador, Rudy, $101 Vergara, $201 Aomen.
