The Godolphin-raced favourite Kementari didn’t disappoint the punters in the big one at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, the Randwick Guineas top fancy saluting his spot in futures markets for the Group 1 with a strong second-up victory in the 2018 Hobartville Stakes.

Race favourite Kementari saluted in the 2018 Hobartville Stakes results on way to the Randwick Guineas next month. Photo: Steve Hart.

The well-bred son of Lonhro emulated his sire who won the same Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival event back in 2002 with a strong late effort in the Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m).

Kementari started favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au on the back of his easy three length victory first-up a fortnight ago at Warwick Farm in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m).

Jockey Glyn Schofield continued his successful autumn association with the gun three-year-old and made it two-from-two this campaign on Kementari who now heads to the Group 1 $1 million Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Royal Randwick on March 10.

“Very satisfying,” Schofield said post-win having sat up on the speed before clearing away from the quality field.

“He just travelled so sweetly for me…I just let him come out on his own and he did everything himself.”

Schofield went forward early on Kementari who settled into second just behind the Gerald Ryan-trained Golden Rose winner Trapeze Artist, a first-up winner in the Expressway Stakes.

Trapeze Artist held the lead as they turned, Kementari right up on his back and travelling beautifully.

The top fancy let down and moved up to the front-runner, eventually drawing clear when Schofield asked for more to put them to bed at the 150m.

In the end Kementari held off the well-bred Gregory Hickman-trained Pierro colt Pierata ($4.80) who came off back-to-back summer wins including the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast in mid-January.

“When I did ask him to go…the last furlong when I asked him to quicken he was never going to get beat,” Schofield added.

In third rounding out the Hobartville Stakes trifecta and also brave in defeat was the previously undefeated Chris Waller-trained D’Argento ($6) who made up late ground and looked good heading towards the mile next-up for the rematch in the Randwick Guineas 2018.

Kementari has firmed into $3 in futures Randwick Guineas betting at Ladbrokes.com.au sitting ahead of the Hobartville Stakes placegetters D’Argento ($4.20) and Pierata ($6).

“That was impressive, to run past a horse like Trapeze Artist,” Godolphin’s stable representative Darren Beadman said of the winner.

“Today was really a test for him and he put them away nicely.

“He added another dimension to his racing pattern today.

“I think that he’s got a mile written all over him.

“He’s a very clean winded horse and I think that will assist him in getting a mile.”

Kementari was tested at a mile in Melbourne over the spring when runner-up to Mighty Boss, just a quarter-length beaten last October in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

He could also continue onto ‘The Championships’ at Royal Randwick on April 7 for a shot at the older horses in the Group 1 $3 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) and pays $6 as the favourite for that as well.

To back Kementari next race and to access the best upcoming Group 1 Randwick mile racing odds online visit Ladbrokes.com.au.

2018 Hobartville Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Rosehill Race 7 – 24/02/2018