Kermadec has confirmed his rating as a leading Cox Plate contender with a breakthrough weight-for-age win in the George Main Stakes at Randwick.
Returning to the course where he claimed his first Group One success in the Doncaster Mile during the autumn, Kermadec came from midfield to win Saturday’s $500,000 race.
Kermadec – George Main Stakes
Kermadec relegated stablemate Royal Descent into second, consigning the mare to her third successive runner-up finish in the race.
Pornichet held down third after establishing a lead at the 200m that Kermadec’s jockey Glyn said he was always confident of pegging back.
“What a super horse he is,” Schofield said.
“Pornichet pinched a break but I had him in my sights and it was never in doubt really.”
Schofield was having his first ride in a race on Kermadec, taking over from Glen Boss who was suspended.
Kermadec’s win gave premier trainer Chris Waller his third in the past four editions of the George Main.
In all but ruling out an Epsom Handicap start, Waller said Kermadec needed to stand up on Saturday to be considered a genuine chance in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley next month.
“He’s done it now in terms of the mile and we’ve got to try and get a big weight-for-age win next to his name,” Waller said.
“He’s a colt, he’s a Doncaster winner, he’s lightly raced. If we can get one of those big ones in Melbourne, he (becomes) a very valuable horse.”
