Building on strong results from the Adelaide Carnival’s opening duo of days, Lloyd Kennewell targets a blockbuster at Morphettville come Saturday.
Straand Deal provided Kennewell with a win at last Saturday’s South Australian Derby meet, following Vangogh Bankcheque’s triumph on the April 25 Australasian Oaks/Sangster Stakes bill.
Kennewell, raised in South Australia, delights in trips back from Cranbourne and covets a Group 1 win on home turf to swell his accolades.
In The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville Saturday—the Adelaide Carnival’s closing Group 1—Kennewell fields Meridius, while Kokako takes on the Group 3 Proud Miss Stakes (1200m) and Howcani Resistyou the Group 3 David Coles AM Stakes (1200m).
Meridius’s third Group 1 test arrives, his debut at the level post three-year-old campaigns in the Caulfield Guineas and Coolmore Stud Stakes during 2022 spring.
Two recent runs have sharpened the gelding since his January Magic Millions Carnival excursion to the Gold Coast, priming him for The Goodwood.
A March 21 first-up victory at Caulfield over 1200m preceded a luckless third in the Group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400m) on April 4 there.
“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.”
Top Perth hoop Chris Parnham has been recruited by Kennewell.
With limited jockey options as regulars bypassed the Goodwood fixture, securing talent was key.
“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.”
Discover the latest betting markets for the race as The Goodwood approaches.