The Godolphin team behind Kementari believe their eight-year-old has the required fire power and profile to upset top local filly, Amelia’s Jewel when they clash in Saturday week’s $4 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot.
The James Cummings-trained Kementari is no stranger to Perth racing, having campaigned twice previously and ending a long losing drought of nearly three years when he won the A.J.Scahill Stakes (1400m) in 2020.
Kementari, a winner of the G1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and G2 Hobartville (1400m) in Sydney, has amassed $4.7 million in prizemoney and $1.2 million in bonuses after eight wins and 14 placings from 47 starts.
Eight-year-old Kementari will run into star Perth filly Amelia’s Jewel in The Quokka, the Simon Miller-trained three-year-old rated as one of the best horses in Australia, a view that was cemented at Ascot last Saturday.
Racing first up after her G1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) heroics from last December, Amelia’s Jewel scored a spectacular short-course return win in the Roma Cup (1100m), storming home to shore up Quokka favouritism.
Many observers believe Amelia’s Jewel will take a power of beating in the Quokka, but the man responsible for Kementari’s Quokka preparation in Perth, Nacim Dilmi, is adamant the son of Lonhro cannot be underestimated.
“I think he can do it,” Dilmi said.
“He’s settled in very well, looks great and I couldn’t be happier with the horse.
“His record fresh shows he goes well and we’re confident we have the right horse here.”
Kementari has not raced since a seventh placing behind The Astrologist in The Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot last December.
Before departing for Perth, he was given two trials at Randwick, the latest hit out on March 21 impressing Dilmi.
He finished second to stable mate Aft Cabin over 1045m and the feedback from jockey, Zac Lloyd was positive.
“It was a very good trial,” Dilmi said.
“Zac Lloyd came back and said he was holding him.
“He said if he let him go he would have put five lengths on Aft Cabin.
“I was very happy with the trial and the way he has pulled up.
“For an old horse like him he carries on like he is a three-year-old.
“Now that the horse is here and settled we have the right horse for WA again.”
Kementari secured a Quokka slot under the banner of Sports Entertainment Network (SEN).
Amelia’s Jewel is the $2.40 Tabtouch favourite for The Quokka on April 15.
Kementari is $17.
