The Godolphin stable is hopeful of filling a slot in The Everest with Group 1 winning colt Kementari who is among the nominations for the Group 2 $200,000 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Kementari, above, is among the nominations for the 2018 Missile Stakes at Randwick. Pjhoto by Steve Hart.
Godolphin Australia’s General Manager Vin Cox said that the giant racing establishment was in no hurry to lock Kementari in a slot for the 2018 $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 13 but would keep negotiations open with the remaining two slot holders who are yet to select a runner.
“I’ve been talking to a number of slot-holders over the last little while and we’ve always said we’re not prepared to look too early,” Cox told The Australian.
Kementari has had two recent barrier trials at Rosehill for his 2018 Spring Carnival pipe opener for a fifth over 904m and a third over 900m and Cox has also pencilled in the Group 1 $1m Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 1 for the James Cummings Group 1 winner.
“We’ve said the Memsie Stakes will be the fork in the road as to where we go. The horse is in terrific order and we couldn’t be happier with him,” Cox said.
Kementari was spelled after finishing tenth to Happy Clapper in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on day one of The Championships on April 7 which was at the end of a tough 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival that he kicked off with a hat trick of wins.
Kementari scored a first up win in the Group 3 $150,000 Aquis Farm Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm before winning the Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.
The Lonhro colt then racked up a hat trick of wins when he claimed his first Group 1 trophy when he beat Pierata in the $1m Mostyn Copper Group Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick on March 10.
Kementari is one of nine horses nominated for the Missile Stakes with several other Group 1 winners among the entries and include the Bjorn Baker trained Music Magnate, 2017 Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign and Gary Moore’s sprinter Takedown as well as Randwick Stakes runner up Pierata.
Kementari has been installed as the $2.40 favourite for the Missile Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Pierata at $5 and Egyptian Symbol and Music Magnate at $6.
Early betting for the 2018 Missile Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.40 Kementari, $5 Pierata, $6 Egyptian Symbol, Music Magnate, $7.50 Showtime, $12 She Will Reign, $16 Lanciato, Takedown, $34 Boss Lane.
