The celebrations started early at Westbury Stud on Saturday when Stormy claimed the Group II Wakefield Challenge at Trentham to become the first stakes-winner for Telperion. However, the celebrations were no less muted at Ascot when Telperion's often-maligned, but much-loved, half-brother Kementari stormed home to win the Group III A J Scahill Stakes.
The knives have been out for Kementari since he resumed his racetrack career as a gelding after standing just one season at Darley Stud.
Now, the Hollywood handsome son of Lonhro produced 41 live foals from the 54 mares covered in 2019. Considering he only served until the end of September that does not seem such an alarming strike rate.
After a year off the track, Kementari gave hope that he could resurrect his track career when third in the Group III Star Kingdom Stakes in March.
But he became something of a tease for punters in eight subsequent starts without winning.
Only the faithful loaded up again in the A J Scahill Stakes and it looked like the Kementari of old.
Settled back at the tail of the field by Chris Parnham, the 6yo gelding came with a barnstorming finish to defeat the odd-on favourite Celebrity Queen (Redoute's Choice) by a length with Dance Music (War Chant) one and three-quarter lengths back in third.
Touted to be his final race, Kementari was impressive enough to give the Godolphin team something to mull over.
Winning for the first time since downing Pierata and Trapeze Artist in the Group 1 ATC Randwick Guineas as a 3yo in March 2018, Kementari advances his record to five wins, five seconds and six thirds from 29 starts with earnings of $2,128,800.
Besides the Listed Lonhro Plate winner and Group 1 ATC Sires' Produce Stakes runner-up Telperion (Street Cry), Kementari is a half-brother to the stakes-placegetters Valaquenta (Street Boss) and Palurien (Reset)
He is the second foal of the Melbourne winning Redoute's Choice mare Yavanna who is a daughter of the dual Group III winner Wild Queen (Loup Sauvage) who was purchased by Darley as a yearling for $260,000.
From the incomparable Denise's Joy family, Yavanna has a two-year-old sister to Kementari named Laurelin and an unnamed yearling filly by Lonhro.
After a late foaling, she was not covered last year.
The champion Lonhro has 14 lots catalogued for the Gold Coast.
