Regal Roller And P.B. Lawrence Both Still Options For Thiamandi

Trainer Lloyd Kennewell has revealed that he is still unsure whether Thiamandi will contest the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) or the Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Thiamandi scored an upset win over Lord Of The Sky in the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield this weekend.

Thiamandi scored an upset win over Lord Of The Sky in the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia

Thiamandi was included in the nominations for both races yesterday and Kennewell told Racing Ahead that he and owner Luke Koumi were unable to agree on what event was the more appropriate target for the talented mare after she showed she was capable of winning at Group level when she took out the Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on July 26.

“We are going to make our mind up first thing tomorrow morning,” Kennewell said.

“I am really keen to run her in the 1200 and Luke the owner is really keen to run her in the 1400.

“It is a matter of who pulls the right straws I guess.

“Luke is probably the nicest guy and the most difficult owner that I have got.

“He always aims high, he owned Better Loosen Up, so we will just see where we end up.

“The 1400 there is more of a lack of tempo so she will roll forward in that, my theory is that in the 1200 she is weighted really well with 54 kilos and there is probably not a better mare going around at the moment in form.

“I am keen to stick to the 1200 and then give her a chance maybe in a Memsie if we want to go to 1400 if we win this week.”

While Kennewell is no closer to a decision on this Saturday’s target for Thiamandi, he is confident that she will perform well whether she contests the P.B. Lawrence Stakes or the Regal Roller Stakes.

Kennewell believes that Thiamandi has really seasoned during her winter campaign and said that she is very similar in her manner around the stable to how she was in the week leading up to her surprise Bletchingly Stakes victory.

“She is accustomed to travelling and when she is squealing and bouncing around that is normally when she is at her best, which she was the other day at Caulfield the other day when she won,” Kennewell said.

“She is like that at the moment, she is like a time bomb ticking and I think those mares that are in form are very hard to hold out.

“Whatever she runs in she will run well.

“I am looking forward to it.”

Thiamandi will carry the minimum of 54 kilograms if she runs in the Regal Roller Stakes on Saturday, while she will carry 56.5 kilograms if she makes her debut over 1400 metres in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.