Skip to Content

Kemalpasa sets sights on first-up Stakes win

Confidence is high in the Richard and Chantelle Jolly stable regarding Kemalpasa’s first-up chances in Saturday’s $127,750 R N Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville.

Kemalpasa hasn’t raced since he was narrowly beaten by Celebrity Queen and Portland Sky in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield in February and Richard Jolly said the horse had ticked all the required boxes for his return.

“I think he’s the best horse in the race, especially at weight-for-age,” Jolly said.

“If it was a handicap, he’d be giving them a lot more weight and the Goodwood is certainly going to be harder.

“I’m reasonably confident he’s going well enough to give it a big shake.”

Kemalpasa was narrowly beaten by Instant Celebrity in a Morphettville trial last week and Jolly said he was buoyed by drawing perfectly in barrier three.

“He’s good, I’m really happy with him,” Jolly said.

“He’s pulled up really well from his trial last week and we haven’t done a lot with him this week.

“He always flies the gate, he could lead or take a sit, either way he’s going to get a pretty good run… “He’s fit enough to win.”

Jolly said the race would top him off perfectly for the $502,250 Group 1 Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 15.

“We’ve been relatively easy on him,” Jolly said. “He’s had that nice barrier trial which really tightened him up but he’s certainly fit enough to win it with improvement left in him.”

In the same race the stable also saddles up Dexelation, who can potentially use the Irwin as a lead in to a Victorian raid for the $175,000 Listed Wangoom (1200m) at Warrnambool on May 5.

“He’s the kind of horse now who takes a few runs to hit form,” Jolly said.

“He carried a stack of weight at Oakbank and ran as we expected.

“He’ll run a nice race. I can’t see him beating a few of these horses, but if he runs well, he will go to Warrnambool for the Wangoom.

“It’s a handicap where he’d get in well at the weights and it’s always a soft track.”

Post categories

Racing SA - Racing Racing SA - Stories Racing SA - Latest News