Lloyd Kennewell, fresh from wins on the first two days of the Adelaide Carnival, wants to capitalize for a huge result at Morphettville this Saturday.
On April 25, Vangogh Bankcheque succeeded at the Australasian Oaks/Sangster Stakes day, and Straand Deal notched a victory for Kennewell at the South Australian Derby program last Saturday.
A lifelong South Australian, Kennewell treasures his returns from Cranbourne and is eager to notch a home-town Group 1 to enhance his honors.
Meridius represents Kennewell in The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville Saturday, the Adelaide Carnival’s final Group 1, with Kokako in the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) and Howcani Resistyou in the Group 3 David Coles AM Stakes (1200m).
The gelding Meridius faces Group 1 foes for the third go, first since his juvenile year with runs in the Caulfield Guineas and Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2022’s spring carnival.
After January’s Magic Millions Carnival on the Gold Coast, two preparations have tuned Meridius for The Goodwood.
He dominated first-up at 1200m at Caulfield on March 21, then endured misfortune for third in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield April 4.
“He’s going good and probably should have won the Victoria Handicap,” Kennewell said.
“He’s won there, he knows the place well and I’m keen to run him in it as well, plus I’m very happy to have some nice runners when I head back home again.”
Kennewell secured Perth star jockey Chris Parnham’s services.
Finding a suitable rider proved tough with many regulars skipping the Adelaide Goodwood day.
“There weren’t many riders going over to ride on Goodwood Day which I thought was quite interesting,” Kennewell said.
“Mark Zahra wasn’t going, neither was Craig Williams, Jamie Melham was going to ride mine, but she’s up on the Gold Coast to ride Half Yours.
“There was a lot going on with riders, so I wanted to get on the front foot and get a very good rider, and Chris is an ‘A grader’.
“We’ve got a bit of a relationship with him, so he’s going over, and we’re very happy to have him on.”
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