Kermadec Up Late for George Main Victory
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Trainer Chris Waller landed the George Main Stakes (Aus-I) for the third time in four years, sending out Kermadec to win this year's edition Sept. 19 at Royal Randwick.
The 4-year-old son of Teofilo led in stablemate Royal Descent in a one-two finish for Waller, who captured the race last year with Sacred Falls and in 2012 with Shoot Out.
Kermadec won Saturday's race by a half length from Royal Descent, a 6-year-old Redoute's Choice mare who was second in the event for the third consecutive year. Pornichet checked in third, just a head back, after sitting just off the lead with Blake Shinn and then taking command in the stretch, but Kermadec and Royal Descent had stamina in reserve to get past late.
Kermadec stamped himself a leading contender for the W.S. Cox Plate (Aus-I), Australia's premier weight-for-age race, Oct. 24 at Moonee Valley.
Ridden by Glyn Schofield, Kermadec was several lengths behind at the top of the stretch but rallied strongly in the final 200 meters and was up in time to get the win.
"At the 100-meter mark I said to myself, 'Today's your day, you've got to stand up', and I looked away," Waller told the Sydney Morning Herald. "Sure enough he knuckled down so that was good to see.
"(Royal Descent is) gallant," he said of the runner-up. "She fought all the way to the line today, it was good to see her get to Pornichet late."
Final time for 1,600 meters (about one mile) was 1:37.70 on soft turf.
New Zealand-bred Kermadec has a 4-2-2 record from 11 career starts that includes his win in last year's Doncaster Mile (Aus-I) for owner Neville Morgan. Llanhennock Trust bred the colt from the stakes-winning Fuji Kiseki mare Hy Fuji. He was a $260,000 (US$217,802) purchase by Guy Mulcaster at the 2013 New Zealand Bloodstock premier yearling sale at Karaka. Wentwood Grange consigned.