Nash Rawiller found the narrowest of seams along the fence, which was all the crowd favourite Kemetari needed to return to the winners circle in Saturday's Group III TAB Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
The striking son of Lonhro defeated Count De Rupee (Real Impact) by a short-neck with the odds-on favourite Big Parade (Deep Field) one and a half lengths back in third.
Four years on from his win in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas, Kemetari advances his record to eight wins, six seconds, and six thirds from 40 starts with earnings of $2,634,800.
Winning trainer James Cummings said it's no secret the black gelding is a stable favourite.
"He's a wonderful horse, gets here, parades so beautifully, and Nash just listened to what he was told. Which was the most important thing and delivered a very cool ride under difficult circumstances," Cummings said.
Kementari spent one season at stud but proved sub-fertile, leaving six live foals.
"If he races against his progeny, that would be something," Cummings said.
But as long as he is in this sort of vein we'll race him sparingly and look after him. I think he's still got a little bit of racing left in him, but I think the most important thing is that he's given our racing team, the entire operation for that matter, a big thrill. He's got something about him that has brought us all together.
"He’s in at the right time of year for Queensland. But it’s funny you can either head one of two ways. There’s South Australia on at the same time, and we’ll make our mind up, but I think he’s going particularly well, and he’s got another big run in him this prep.”
Kementari is a half-brother to Listed Lonhro Plate winner and Group 1 ATC Sires' Produce Stakes runner-up Telperion (Street Cry), and to to the stakes-placegetters Valaquenta (Street Boss) and Palurien (Reset)
He is one of six winners from a many to race out of the Melbourne winning Redoute's Choice mare Yavanna, 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 weanling filly by Too Darn Hot and was covered by the triple Group 1 winning son of Dubawi again last spring.
