Kementari Retired – New Life Ahead for a Godolphin Favourite

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday May 30

Charismatic Lonhro gelding Kementari has run his last race for Godolphin and has been officially retired.

Kementari has been retired - image Steve Hart

A Group I winner of over $3.5million, Kementari was initially retired to stud much earlier in his career as a colt, but after covering 54 mares at Darley headquarters at Kelvinside and getting only two in foal he was gelded and returned to training.

Kementari raced on successfully under the care of James Cummings and retires as an eight year-old with eight wins and 14 placings from 49 starts with his highlight win coming in the Group I ATC Randwick Guineas.

Kementari had a short lived career at stud.

“Every indication he gave us at home was he loved his training and all his personality and character was still evident,” said Godolphin Australian Racing Manager, Jason Walsh.

“He’s a high-class horse who has consistently thrilled us with some remarkable performances in the top races in Australia.”

Advertisement

After his extraordinary journey, Kementari will now have a spell before beginning his new role as a flagbearer for Godolphin Lifetime Care.

“The first priority is the horse gets all the care and has a wonderful life, post-racing,” Walsh said.

“The flagbearer program promotes the thoroughbred breed, its versatility and life after racing.

"The thoroughbreds’ versatility has been gaining increased acknowledgment, evidenced by the recent announcement that the breed will be honoured and featured in several Olympic events this year." 

Walsh said it will be sad to see Kementari finally walk out the stable door.

“As much for his racing ability, he was a pleasure to have around the stable and he’ll be sorely missed for that reason.

“He’s a horse that has touched the hearts of many across the organisation, not just in the stables, but also the people who have cared for him in his spelling and through his development. He has always cut a striking figure, but it is the combination of all his attributes that has meant he has endeared himself to everyone who has had anything to do with him.

“I’m sure there’ll be many people out there who’ll be very willing to give him a pat and thank him for his contribution. We look forward to seeing what he can do when enjoying the next part of his career.”

Footnote: The two foals sired by Kementari are now two year-olds, a filly called La Seule trained by Chris Waller and a colt called Manwe trained by Anthony Cummings.

 

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Coolmore Announce Euro 2025 Fees
Coolmore have announced fees for their 20 strong European sire roster with three new additions City of Troy (Justify), Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact)and Henry Longfellow (Dubawi) and a significant increase for Wootton Bassett, who is currently in Australia.
Gelded Kementari Ready for Return
The Rosehill meeting on Saturday features some top class racing and the return of charismatic Lonhro five year-old Kementari, who bowed out of racing as a stallion last March and returns as a gelding.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Kementari Bounces Back
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.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Lonhro's Kementari Strikes in the Gilgai
Kementari likes to space his wins nowadays, but the striking near-black son of Lonhro relished the four-horse war in the Group II Gilgai Stakes at Flemington.
Melbourne Cup Winner for Extreme Choice – Rare Slice of History
This year’s $8.5million Group I VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m) produced a genuinely amazing fairytale result for the connections of five year-old Extreme Choice gelding Knight’s Choice, but part of that fairytale is his sire Extreme Choice, who has carved out something seriously special as being only the second sire in history to produce the winner of a Golden Slipper and a Melbourne Cup.