Kermadec worthy Cox Plate favourite after George Main Stakes win

New weight for age star Kermadec is a worthy Cox Plate favourite after displaying unlimited potential in winning the Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick last Saturday.

George Main Stakes winner Kermadec is the new favourite for the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Photo by Steve Hart.

George Main Stakes winner Kermadec is the new favourite for the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Chris Waller trained Kermadec has been promoted to the top of the market order at Ladbrokes.com.au and is now the new $9 favourite for the Group 1 $3m William Hill Cox Plate (2040m) to be run at Moonee Valley on October 24.

Fawkner still holds a prominent position on the second line of betting at $10 on the strength of his tough win in the Group 1 $400,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 12.

Next in the betting is the Aidan O’Brien trained Highland Reel at $11 ahead of top class English galloper Arod, John O’Shea’s Contributer, French trained Galio Chop and Kermadec’s stablemate Winx are all at $13.

The dominance of Kermadec’s win in the George Main Stakes has created enormous interest in breeding circles with his stud value as a future stallion being estimated to be around the $20 million mark.

And Waller is not holding back with his thoughts on how good Kermadec is and is rating him alongside of the mighty So You Think who was the winner of ten Group 1 races in Australia and Europe, including back to back wins in the 2009 and 2010 Cox Plates for Bart Cummings.

“He might not be So You Think but he is not far off, just a different colour,’’ Waller told The Daily Telegraph.

“There has been a few ‘sniffs’ for him and I think they (potential buyers) will be knocking on the door this week.’’

Last Saturday’s George Main Stakes win was Kermadec’s second Group 1 win and added to his victory in the Group 1 $3m The Star 150th Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 6, the first day of ‘The Championships’ during the Sydney Autumn Carnival this year.

Waller will now set his attention on the Melbourne Spring Carnival with Kermadec who will have his next run over 2000m in the Group 1 $400,000 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 10 as his final lead up race for the Cox Plate.

“I think he is racing like a 2000m horse,” Waller said.

“He is an awesome horse that has a Doncaster and ticked another box at weight for age, but I think 2000m is going to suit him without a doubt.”

“He’s done it now in terms of a mile and we’ve got to try to get a big weight-for-age next to his name.

“He’s a colt, he’s a Doncaster winner, he’s lightly-raced and if we can get one of those big ones in Melbourne, he’s a very valuable horse.”

Waller had another outstanding day at the office last Saturday, training half the eight event card for the second week in a row after collecting four winners at Rosehill the previous Saturday.

As well as Kermadec taking out the feature race on the program at Randwick,  Waller also visited the winner’s stall with Counterattack in the Listed 100,000 Schweppes Heritage Stakes (1100m),  Sadler’s Lake in the Group 3 $125,000 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) and with Preferment in the Group 2 $200,000 Ascend Sales Trophies Hill Stakes (2000m).

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.