Kementari
The
Lonhro colt delivered a classy performance to claim
victory at a star studded Group 2 Hobartville Stakes over
1400m at the weekend. He beat Pierata, D’Argento, Trapeze Artist,
Ace High and other stars to win the $400,000 showpiece, and the odds
on him winning the Randwick Guineas and the Doncaster Mile were
immediately slashed. The consistent galloper has now won both races
since making his season reappearance in the Group 3 Aquis Farm Eskimo
Prince Stakes at Warwick Farm on February 10. He is in ominous form
heading into this year's classics, and he looks as though he could be
racing’s next big thing. “This colt is very good,” said
Godolphin representative Darren Beadman after the Hobartville Stakes
win. “I think he is top notch. To run past a horse like Trapeze
Artist, who has the runs on the board, was very impressive. This was
a test for him today and he has put them away nicely. We have seen a
star in the making.” If he follows in Winx’s footsteps by winning
the Doncaster Mile, Kementari really will have announced himself on
the big stage and he is currently the $7 favourite to do so in
the racing
betting.
D’Argento
Chris
Waller’s grey colt rallied well in the closing stages of the
Hobartville Stakes to take third and the trainer believes he will
relish a step up in trip. The extra 200m could make all the
difference for D’Argento at the Doncaster Mile as he was flying at
the end of the race. He is progressing nicely at the right time of
season and looks dangerous ahead of The Championships at Randwick in
April. He was magnificent in winning
at Rosehill last year and
shows signs of further improvement this time around, so he will give
Kementari and co a real run for their money.
Brave
Smash
Japan-bred
Brave Smash beat stablemate Tosen Stardom to win the Group 1
Italktravel Futurity Stakes at Caulfield for Darren Weir at the
weekend. The five-year-old is cementing his reputation as a star
sprinter in Australia and can look forward to a lengthy spell in the
breeding barn. But before that there is more glory potentially on the
horizon, and the Doncaster Mile is now very much in his sights. Brave
Smash has already placed at the Group 1 Ladbrokes C. F. Orr Stakes
and the $10 million Everest Stakes at Randwick, the richest turf race
in the world. That amounts to a mightily impressive CV and Brave
Smash will certainly be in the mix at Randwick in April.
Happy
Clapper
Happy
Clapper has finished second in the Doncaster Handicap for the last
two years and will bid to go one better this April. Since his last
runner-up finish, the popular Syndey galloper has enjoyed
breakthrough Group 1 success at Randwick in the $1 million Epsom
Handicap. That was trainer Pat Webster’s happiest moment in a
racing career spanning 40 years as it represented his first ever
Group 1 victory, and he will be hopeful that Happy Clapper can lead
him to further glory this year. However, he has to carry 57kg for the
Doncaster Mile, while Kementari has just 51.5kg, so victory will be
difficult for him.
The
Rest
Tosen
Stardom should enjoy the slightly longer trip, while Alizee and
Pierata are attracting a lot of attention. Humidor, who won last
year’s Australian Cup and Makybe Diva Stakes and got within a neck
of Winx in the Cox Plate, carries top weight. There is talent
throughout the ante post field, including Aloisia, Cliff’s Edge and
Black Hear Bart, and it should prove to be an open and intriguing
contest, but right now Kementari stands out.
Author
bio
Martin
Green is an experienced horse racing correspondent and tipster and
has been covering the Doncaster Mile for many years.
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