Richard Jolly is confident Kemalpasa can make up for missing a trip to Perth when he lines up in Saturday’s $160,000 Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Sandown.
Kemalpasa kicked off a successful Melbourne Cup week for the stable, winning his second successive TAB (Lithgow) Stakes before stablemate Alleboom was also a winner down the Flemington straight on Melbourne Cup Day.
Jolly and co-training daughter Chantelle had hoped to get the horse to Perth for the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes but the lack of suitable flights to WA meant the Sandown race was the perfect Plan B.
“We bought him back home as there was a possibility of going to Perth but we couldn’t get there so this was the next options,’’ Jolly told RSN.
“He’s really come on well, he hasn’t had a lot of racing so he’s the fresh horse on the scene.
“I think the weight scale now probably suits him. We’re certainly going to the race with a bit of confidence,’’ he said.
Jolly said he wasn’t concerned by the horse heading to Sandown for the first time.
“I haven’t got any problems with the track, I suppose it will depend on how it’s racing but they haven’t been there for a while,’’ Jolly added.
“He handles all tracks and all conditions, he’s a pretty reliable horse,’’ he said.
Kemalpasa has been a revelation after an interesting start to his racing career.
It took a trip to Mindarie Halidon to win his maiden before winning nine (and running nine placings) from his next 23 starts, finishing further back than fifth just once since in the Group 3 Irwin Stakes behind Gytrash back in April,
“Once he hits form he rarely runs a bad race,’’ Jolly said.
“The odd time when he hasn’t performed has been due to a problem. He’s ultra-consistent,’’ he said.
He said winning two races during Cup week was a big thrill for the stable and he’s hoping they can also gets some success on their home track at Morphettville on weekend.
They saddle up two runners in the opening race – Theresabearinthere and All Banter - while he’s hoping the talented Hypercane is ready to fire after three runs back from a spell.
“We expect them (in the first race) to both run well,’’ Jolly added.
“He (Hypercane) probably should have won the other day so he gets a chance to redeem himself, we go into the meeting with some nice hopes,’’ he said.
IMAGE: Racing Photos