Melbourne racegoers will get a look at Godolphin star Kementari early in the 2018/19 racing season, but he is not the only high-profile member of the team being set for Melbourne features.
Northern Hemisphere recruit Home Of The Brave may also have his first Australian start in Victoria.
The son of Starspangledbanner, who caught the eye with a brilliant 4.8-length trial win at Rosehill on July 9, was spoken of as a contender for the $150,000 Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington by trainer James Cummings in an interview with ANZ Bloodstock News.
“Home Of The Brave made quite an impression at his first Australian trial, but it will be interesting to see if he is ready to adapt quickly enough to show that sort of form in good races in spring,” Cummings said.
“He may resume first-up in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap on August 11.”
Home Of The Brave had 18 starts in Europe for six wins, five of which were at Black Type level, including two G3 successes. Four of his six minor placings have been at G2 level.
In the interview with ANZ Bloodstock News, Cummings nominated Kementari’s Randwick Guineas win as his ‘finest hour’ and will be looking to the Lonhro colt to better that in the next few months.
The soon-to-be four-year-old is considered a leading chance in the $13 million The Everest by many judges, but Cummings said no decision had been made beyond his first key spring target – the $1 million Memsie Stakes (1400m) on September 1.
“Kementari has looked impressive in preparation for his first-up run in the Group 2 Missile Stakes over 1200 metres. His first Group 1 aim is the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield,” he said.
“There are a number of options for him this spring and we will see how he progresses through to the Memsie.”
Kementari is also favourite in most markets for the G1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick in early October.
The Memsie Stakes is one of two 1400-metre weight-for-age races at Caulfield in the early part of the season and Cummings nominated the other – the $200,000 G2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes – as a potential first-up option for defending champion Hartnell.
That is the same day as the $120,000 Listed Regal Roller Stakes (1200m), a race Osborne Bulls – who has won seven of his 10 starts – is likely to contest en route to the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) on September 22.
Alizee was another big name that Cummings provided an update for, confirming the G1 Myer Classic at Flemington on Derby Day, November 3, was the major spring target for the two-time 1600-metre G1 winner.
– racing.com
