The Group One BMW will be a pivotal race for Kelinni as he strives to prove his effectiveness at weight-for-age.
Kelinni established himself as one of the country’s top stayers under handicap conditions last spring when he was placed in the Metropolitan, won the Lexus Stakes and was fourth in the Melbourne Cup.
Kelinni winning the Lexus Stakes at Bendigo - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia (Steven Dowden)
All were over distances of 2400 metres or further and on Saturday at Rosehill, the Chris Waller-trained gelding will get out to a genuine staying trip for the first time this campaign, albeit under weight-for-age conditions.
“Saturday will tell us a lot. I was planning on running him in this race and then putting him away,” Waller said.
“But if he doesn’t run well we can press on to the Sydney Cup because we know he stays the distance and he handles handicap conditions.”
Kelinni’s three runs this preparation have all been in weight-for-age races but they have been over unsuitable distances.
He was a first-up fifth in the Apollo Stakes (1400m), followed by ninth in the Chipping Norton (1600m) and sixth in the Ranvet (2000m).
Waller said he had been struggling to have Kelinni in top shape for those runs but felt the gelding was ready to peak on Saturday.
“Kelinni can turn the tables. He can really improve,” Waller said.
“The distance is right, he’s just been one run behind all preparation but he’s finally fit.”
Kelinni will be one of three BMW runners for Waller along with Foreteller and Gatewood, who is the outsider of his trio.
Foreteller won the Ranvet last start but he has never been tested over 2400 metres.
The experience of jockey Jim Cassidy may well be the crucial factor in helping Foreteller run the journey out strongly.
“He’s got a really good finishing burst. We’ve just got to make sure we’re keeping in contact so we’re not chasing too far from home,” Waller said.
“I think that’s the key to him.
“If Jimmy can have him travelling at the 400 metre mark I think the 2400 metres won’t be a problem and he’ll be very hard to beat.”
Waller admits Gatewood needs to lift and plans to have him ridden more conservatively on Saturday to try to revive his form.
