Godolphin's striking Lonhro colt Kementari consigned a top-class field of three-year-old in to also-rans in Saturday's $1 million Group 1 Randwick Guineas.
Under a minimum of urging by Glyn Schofield, Kementari came from worse than midfield to defeat Pierata (Pierro) by one and a half lengths with the game Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) a neck back in third. (photos Steve Hart) .
For Godolphin's head trained James Cummings the result was some compensation for Kementari's close second to the outsider Mighty Boss in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) last October, although that result clearly haunts him.
"If he drew a barrier (in the Caulfield Guineas) that would be his second Group One," he said.
"I shouldn't even be dwelling on that. The performance was just awesome.
"I had almost a fearful amount of confidence in that horse's opportunity to win today.
"He is a serious horse and we have had him tuned to perfection today in a serious race.
He is a mouth-watering colt, silky smooth, he's put them away in a Randwick Guineas in the style of a really high-class colt.
Promoted to the top line of betting for the $3 million Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick on April 7, Kementari is no certainty to take his place.
"One step at a time. Kementari has won his Group One and they were racing for a lot more than a million dollars today," Cummings said.
"That's a massive result for the company, it provides a lot of vindication for our whole racing operation.
"The horse has touched every stable. He's been through Crown Lodge, he went down to Carbine, had a beautiful spring campaign and was just touched off narrowly in the Caulfield Guineas.
"And now from Osborne Park, he's been able to absolutely jump out of the ground as an autumn three-year-old."
A half-brother to the Listed Lonhro Plate winner and Group 1 ATC Sires' Produce Stakes runner-up Telperion (Street Cry), Kementari advances his record to 4 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 9 starts with earnings of $1,353,250
He is the second foal of the Melbourne winning Redoute's Choice mare Yavanna who is a daughter of the dual Group III winner Wild Queen (Loup Sauvage).
Yavanna has a yearling filly by Reset and a colt foal by Street Boss (USA). She was bred back to Lonhro last spring.
Lonhro has four lots catalogued for the Inglis Premier and six lots heading to Easter.
