The Everest ruled out for Kementari
Trainer James Cummings has confirmed that Kementari (Lonhro {Aus}) will remain racing in Melbourne and will not contest The TAB Everest.
A tilt at the world's richest turf race was firmly on Kementari's radar after his second in the G2 Missile S in August, but having his subsequent two starts over 1400m, the likelihood of the 4-year-old heading to the Randwick 1200m feature diminished.
His excellent run when second in Saturday's G1 Memsie S. has convinced Cummings to continue on a weight-for-age path with Kementari, and he'll go to the G1 Makybe Diva S. over 1600m at Flemington on September 15.
“A massive amount of X Factor comes with him. We think the horse would run a big race in The Everest but we feel he will be more effective at a mile," Cummings told Sky Sports Radio.
“By going to the mile we’ll give him a two or three times better chance of winning a Group 1 at his next start.’’
There are two slots available in The Everest, with the ATC and Max Whitby the only two yet to decide who their runners will be.
Smart win for Nicconi colt
Trainer Matt Cumani is slating Caulfield Guineas aspirations for talented colt Akkadian (Nicconi {Aus}) after a tough win at Ballarat on Wednesday over Starvirgo (Zoustar {Aus}). A group 2 placed two-year-old, Akkadian pleased his jockey Ben Melham with his tenacity, “he was actually headed but he fought back. He’s a promising horse.”
The colt was a $110,000 purchase from the Aquis draft of the Magic Millions sale, purchased by agent Craig Rounsefell.
Fellow Magic Millions graduate Subraise (Sebring {Aus}) also broke his maiden status on Wednesday at Ballarat. The $250,000 colt was purchased by John Foote from the Newhaven Park draft, and holds a Guineas nomination.
Weir picks up two more
Champion trainer Darren Weir has added another two talented gallopers to his stable in Group 1 winning New Zealand 4-year-old Age of Fire (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and promising Sydney 3-year-old Ringerdingding (Sebring {Aus}).
Age of Fire, who won last season’s G1 Levin Classic (1600m), has disappointed his owners Te Akau Racing in two trials this campaign and he has been sent to Australia in a bid to re-invigorate him.
“We sent him to Darren Weir to try and put a bit of enthusiasm back into him,” Te Akau principal David Ellis said.
“He was just going through the motions and we thought training him on the beach and with his expertise we could turn his form around."
Age Of Fire has been sent to Darren Weir
“He is a very good horse on his day and he has been bought to stand at Cambridge Stud, so we thought we would give him every opportunity to perform at the elite level in Melbourne in spring.”
Ringerdingding has also joined Weir's Ballarat stable having been previously trained by Edward O'Rourke. He won his first start at Rosehill back in February but has not been able to win since and was last seen when running last in the San Domenico S. on August 25.
Dozen rivals for Graff in Run To The Rose
Saturday's G2 The Run To The Rose has attracted a quality field of 13 runners, included last start G3 San Domenico S. winner Graff (Star Witness {Aus}).
Graff established himself at the top of the markets for the G1 Golden Rose on September 22 with his authoritative win last start and while he has drawn the outside barrier, he will also be favourite for the traditional lead-up race on Saturday.
Last-start winner Sandbar (Snitzel {Aus}) is also in the race, while two of Chris Waller's key Golden Rose contenders Zousain (Zoustar {Aus}) and Lean Mean Machine (Zoustar {Aus}) resume alongside stablemate Performer (Exceed and Excel {Aus}), who ran third behind Graff in the San Domenico.
Lindsay Park take a two-pronged attack into the race with Long Leaf (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Smart Ellisim (Smart Missile {Aus}) both engaged.
The other 3-year-old feature on the day, the G2 Stan Fox, sees The Autumn Sun {Redoute's Choice {Aus}) resume over 1500m up against G3 Ming Dynasty S. winner Danawi (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) and G3 Up and Coming S. winner Master Ash (Sebring {Aus}}.
Team Lloyd hits the Valley
Owner Lloyd Williams will play a major spring hand at Moonee Valley on Saturday with seven of his horses first-up for his trainer Liam Howley.
Williams, the owner of the past two Melbourne Cup winners, has three horses making their Australian debut, all by supersire Galileo {Ire).
Belgravia (Ire), Orderofthegarter (Ire) and Exemplar {Ire) are all formerly trained by Aidan O'Brien
Orderofthegarter has form around stablemate The Taj Mahal, Belgravia was beaten by Europe's best Stradivarius at Ascot last year while exemplar hasn’t been seen since finishing second in the G3 Enterprise S at The Curragh 12 months ago.
Exemplar contests the Harrolds H over 2040m up against stablemates US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Harrison (GB) (Sixties Icon (GB), Belgravia resumes in a 1600m benchmark race while Orderofthegarter joins Sir Isaac Newton (Galileo {Ire}) in a 1600m Handicap,
The seventh runner, Homesman (USA) (War Front {USA)}, goes to the day's feature the G2 Dato Tan Chin Nam S.
Double joy for Carberry
Thomas Carberry notched his first two winners as a trainer on Wednesday at his home track of Ballarat.
Carberry, the son of champion Irish jumps jockey and trainer Tommy, spent two years working with Darren Weir before breaking out on his own with his partner Monique Roche.
They have just four horses in work, with two of them, Diplomac Jack (Monaco Consul {NZ}) and Rakti Roulette (Rakti {GB}), successful on Wednesday.
Diplomac Jack was impressive in winning his maiden over 1600m, while Rakti Roulette, formerly trained by Weir, proved too strong in a 2000m BM64 race.
New home for Roman Emperor
Roman Emperor (Montjeu {Ire}) will stand at Mount Brown International in Victoria after being relocated from Princes Farm at Hawkesbury.
Roman Emperor, an Australian Derby winner, has covered less than 200 mares in seven seasons at stud at Princes Farm and with the property recently being sold to Racing NSW, he needed to find a new home.
Newly established Mount Brown at Euroa have secured his services and he will stand alongside foundation stallion Diamond Tathagata (Hinchinbrook {Aus}).
Roman Emperor's sole stakeswinner so far is Emperor's Way, while he has also had Sydney metro winners in Roman Son, Latin Boy, Imperator Augustus, Nepean, Roman Typhoon and Etheridge.
"Roman Emperor is a proven stakes-producing son of one of the world's best sires and his progeny will be eligible for all the VOBIS incentives and the lucrative Showdown series," said Mount Brown's Lester O'Grady.
"Roman Emperor is the only son of Montjeu at stud in Victoria so breeders have a unique opportunity to get stuck into Montjeu right here in our own backyard."
Roman Emperor will stand for $3300.
