3 minute read

The Godolphin team is already looking forward to the spring with Kementari with the star three-year-old to be spelled after his Doncaster Mile defeat as favourite last Saturday.

Godolphin trainer James Cummings said Kementari had come through the Doncaster with no issues but would not race again this season.

“He pulled up very well and as fresh as he was going into the race, largely on account of the fact that he was locked away all of the way up the straight and never got clear, even until it was all over,” Cummings said.

”He had a preparation we can all be very proud of. We look forward to seeing the colt train on as a 4YO next season because he looks like he has got heaps left to offer for the stable.

“There will be some beautiful weight-for-age races in the spring, but also wherever we want to take him, we can see him being prepared to run well.

“He will head out to the paddock and enjoy a good break and I’m sure we will see an even stronger version of him next time he’s in training”

Cummings has a strong team set for the second day of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday but only one Group One starter with the high class filly Alizee to take on the older mares in the $1 million Coolmore Legacy Stakes (1600m).

Cummings is bullish about Alizee’s chances despite the filly coming back in distance from her last start over 2000m in the Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill.

“She’s showing me everything I needed to see coming out of the Vinery Stakes where she found the distance too far,” Cummings said.

”She looks like she’s ready to peak, I feel like she’s ready to produce the best run of her preparation.

“Hopefully she’s the one coming on the scene to sprint past them.”

Cummings has multiple acceptors in the $600,000 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m), $600,000 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) for 2YO fillies and the $300,000 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) for fillies and mares.

The promising Isaurian is a dual acceptor for the Arrowfield Sprint and the Listed South Pacific (1400m) for the same age group.

He has drawn barrier eight in a field of nine in the South Pacific with Hugh Bowman his declared rider. Brenton Avdulla will be his rider in the Arrowfield Sprint where he has gate six in a field of 10 where Godolphin is also represented by the classy Viridine (Bowman).

Godolphin has the mares Fragonard, Ghisoni and Raiment in the Sapphire Stakes and the 2YO fillies Cristobal and Gongs in the Percy Sykes.

Cummings had this to say about their chances:-

FRAGONARD: “She won’t be as well placed here as the other two under the set weights and penalties provisions but after missing the Birthday Card after suffering a small setback she looks like she’s set to go.

“We’d just like to see her get a run under her belt going into the Scone and Hawkesbury carnivals.”

GHISONI: “She comes into this looking very strong in herself. She’s been luckless in her last couple of runs and then she was never on the track last start.”

“If she can run well here I think she’ll be in for a very good preparation.”

RAIMENT: “Raiment comes into the Sapphire Stakes from an unplaced effort in the Coolmore where we feel she didn’t run the distance right out.

“Back to 1200m here and being back to Randwick should suit her better but the query is whether she might need a bit more juice in the ground.”

CRISTOBAL: “This filly has done nothing but go ahead since running a beautiful second to Sunlight in the Magic Night Stakes.

“She had a nice lung burner in a barrier trial at Rosehill last week and she’s come out of that bouncing and on her toes.

“It’s going to be interesting on Saturday to see if she’s going to continue to go ahead.”

GONGS: “Gongs had a few weeks between runs and comes out of one of the better form races leading up to the Golden Slipper.

“She looks like she’s strengthened since then and is feeling even better within herself.

“Arriving here on the fresh side should see her showing some of the best work of her campaign. If she can acquit herself here then we would be looking forward to her being a very strong spring three-year-old next season.”

*NOTE: Cummings has advised Racing NSW stewards that Fragonard, which was a late scratching on veterinary advice on 24 March, has pleased the stable after slipping over at the stables on the morning of March 24. She sustained a wound to the near hind fetlock which was treated. Cummings advised Fragonard has missed no work. A veterinary clearance passing the filly fit to start this Saturday has been received by stewards.