Randwick based Kiwi trainer John Sargent is certain that the Randwick ‘Mile’ will suit his Crown Oaks winner Kirramosa when she takes on her rivals in the Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White George Main Stakes (1600m) on Saturday.
Kirramosa will be suited over the Randwick Mile in the George Main Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Kirramosa has been entered for all the major Spring Carnival staying races and will be having her third run back from a spell this weekend as Sargent steps the Alamosa mare up slowly in distance.
Sargent has been happy with the way Kirramosa has got to the line in both her runs this campaign when fifth to Peeping in a 1200m BenchMark 90 Handicap at Rosehill on August 15 followed by a fifth to Hooked in the Group 2 $175,000 Tattersalls Club Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 5.
“That took her up another level. A mile on Saturday here in the George Main is like 2000m which will suit her,” Sargent told RSN’s Racing Ahead.
“That’s why I am keeping her at a mile at this stage and that is why I am not down in Melbourne. I know that she can stay but she has a bit of brilliance.”
“I think she is a good chance on Saturday drawn at eight out of ten and I will just leave it up to Tommy Berry. He had a ride on her for a win in the Wakeful and let’s hope she can reproduce that form.”
Berry was on board Kirramosa when she won the Group 2 $300,000 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington before Nash Rawiller took over the reins to win the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) also at Flemington five days later.
Sargent is confident that Kirramosa is back to her Oaks winning form and has also pencilled in the Group 1 $1m The Star Epsom (1600m) at Randwick on October 3 as her next assignment after Saturday.
“She is back to where she was at Flemington two years ago,” Sargent said.
“She will run Saturday and if she runs well she will carry on and go in with 52kg for the Epsom and that will be even a better option.”
“I hope the weather holds, it doesn’t look like raining. All the better if it doesn’t for her.”
“I think she is better on top of the ground. She can handle the soft but of it gets heavy that wouldn’t help her.”
Even though Sargent is sticking to the 1600m features at the moment, he is keen to get down to Melbourne after the Epsom and focus on securing a run in the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 17 and in the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.
“I would like to get down to Melbourne, she is in both the Cups and we will just get down there after the Epsom and play it by ear,” Sargent ssaid.
“I would love to get her into one of those Cup races, she goes very good that way around and we know she can stay.”
“By the time she gets the two miles she will have a lot of good miles in her legs.”
“She will be more relaxed to get over that trip too. She will go up to 2000m straight after the Epsom.”
Kirramosa is currently listed at $15 in the George Main Stakes betting with Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Chris Waller trained pair of Kermadec at $2.90 and Royal Descent at $4.40 are at the top of the market order ahead of Lucia Valentina at $6.50 and Pornichet at $7.
George Main Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.90 Kermadec, $4.40 Royal Descent, $6.50 Lucia Valentina, $7 Pornichet, $12 Hooked, $13 Sweynesse, $15 Kirramosa, $21 Hauraki, $26 Protectionist, $81 Moriarty.
