Godolphin’s Australian trainer James Cummings is finding it hard to split his two three-year-olds, Viridine and Kementari, when they line up against each other in the Group 1 $1m Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Viridine, above, is one of three runners for trainer James Cummings in the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.
Viridine and Kementari are coming off totally different Spring Carnival preparations, but Cummings is confident that both colts will perform well.
“I can’t split Viridine and Kementari, although they are different horses coming off different preparations, they are as classy as each other,” Cummings said.
Viriden is undefeated from four race starts and heads to Flemington for the first time on the back of a win in the Group 2 $300,000 Polytrack Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 7.
“Viridine was last seen winning the Roman Consul Stakes, a race that’s been used as a lead up to the Coolmore quite effectively in the past by horses like Japonisme, Brazen Beau and a number of others,” Cummings said.
“We’d love to see this horse get the job done as well. He’s a very fast colt and we’ve been delighted with his training.
“He comes into this third up and ready to hit an absolute peak. He’s needs to have gone ahead if he’s going to be winning, but we feel he’s done that.
Cummings has keep Viridine to a springing campaign in the lead up to the Coolmore Stud Stakes but Kementari has been tested over the 1600m and has been freshened up after finishing second to the $101 outsider Mighty Boss in the Group 1 $2m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 14.
“We’ve sharpened him up and with the addition of winkers (cheek pieces) and we think that he can drop back in distance and still produce that lethal turn of foot that he’s got,” Cummings said
“He’s going to be a far better horse in the autumn and this little bit of extra experience can only do him a world of good.”
Brenton Avdulla sticks with Viridine who has drawn the rails in the Coolmore Stud Stakes while Kementrai, with the winkers on for the first time, has drawn barrier twelve with Damian Lane in the saddle.
Viridine is the best fancied of the Godolphin runners at $7.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au for the Coolmore Stud Stakes while Kementari is listed at $15.
Cummings will also saddle up the Exceed And Excel colt Malahat who is one of the outsiders of the field at $81.
French jockey Olivier Peslier takes the ride on Malahat (barrier 8) who has the blinkers going on, replacing the winkers, following his last start fourth to Goodfella in the Listed $150,000 Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on October 21.
