Kementari primed and poised to settle unfinished Caulfield business
Vega Magic, the David Hayes-trained powerhouse who is looking to make it back-to-back Memsie Stakes triumphs, might be all the rage with the bookmakers for the first Group One event of the season at Caulfield on Saturday.
But the Godolphin camp is quietly confident that their colt Kementari - whom trainer James Cummings says has unfinished business at the Melbourne venue - is cherry ripe to make his presence felt in what is a high-quality field for this year's renewal of a race that always provides some significant pointers for later in the spring.
Kementari was narrowly beaten in the Caulfield Guineas last spring when boilover galloper Mighty Boss got up on his inside to spring a 100-1 shock, a result that still has the Blue Army smarting. A win in the Guineas, known as a stallion-making race, would have enhanced the son of Lonhro's prestige and stud value immensely.
He comes into this contest third-up on the back of a close second to Pierata in the Missile Stakes and a fourth-place finish behind superstar Winx in the Randwick race named after the wonder mare a fortnight ago.
Cummings flew into Melbourne on Friday to catch up with the Godolphin stable's new Melbourne assistant trainer, Kate Grimwade, and oversee the final preparation of the four-year-old ahead of what the trainer says will be his ''acid test''.
''It's an important race for him. It's a really big challenge, but the horse is quite bright, he will be ready to go, but I think he's going to know he's been in a race.
''He pulled up really brightly from his clash with Winx. I think that has given him the benefit that he needs to be ready to go in a really hard race at seven furlongs.
''It's a proper weight-for-age race and that's what we want. We want to see the horse excel and under an acid test I think we will see the best of him.''
As Cummings points out, he comes into the race having been competitive with the world's highest-rated horse, and he has every chance to atone for his Guineas disappointment last spring.
''I thought the horse ran really well, and the Winx form is the best form you can take anywhere. He's got some unfinished business at Caulfield. It would be wonderful to see him let down like he did that day.''
Grimwade, who has only just joined the Melbourne stable having worked for Godolphin's Newmarket operation until a fortnight ago, has enjoyed plenty of big-race success already this year with Godolphin winning the Epsom Derby with Masar and other top races with the likes of Benbatl, Blue Point and Wild Illusion through the European summer.
She is playing her contribution down should Kementari get up in the Memsie, although she says that the colt has given every impression of being just right for this big assignment.
''I don't think I can take much credit for this one,'' she said. ''The horse walked out on to the track this morning like most group 1 winners I have worked with. He's an intelligent horse and he walked out there this morning looking like he owned the place. He was calm and relaxed and took it all in his stride. That's what you want to see with these big horses.''
Cummings said Grimwade was his No. 1 choice for the post from an impressive list of applicants.
She has been with Godolphin for nearly 15 years, but also had a spell with Gai Waterhouse in Sydney earlier in her career so is no stranger to Australian racing.
Her experience with the Godolphin horses in Europe will also stand her in good stead dealing with the imports that arrive, either on hit-and-run missions for the carnival or to be trained here for the remainder of their careers.
''Kate knows what it's like to have a big team on her hands. She's very intelligent and she knows how Godolphin thinks and works,'' Cummings said.
Grimwade added: ''There can't be any harm in understanding where they (the imports) come from, their histories and how they were trained at home. But I think it's important that they can accept that they have to adapt to conditions here. They are not in Europe any more and they have to cope with life on the track.''