Meridius Breaks Year-Long Drought in Hayes Memorial

Mark Smith - Monday March 11

A happy homecoming for Lloyd Kennewell and Jamie Kah as the Extreme Choice gelding Meridius broke a year-long drought in the Listed Quayclean C S Hayes Memorial Cup (1600m) at Morphettville.

Meridius (image Atkins Photography)

Meridius (image Atkins Photography)

Travelling sweetly midfield, Meridius tracked into a challenging position on the turn. The last to come off the bridle, Meridius needed little more than a shake of the reins to defeat the well-supported So You Think gelding Thirsty Guest by with the Ambidexter gelding I’m A Dexstar a game third.

Runner-up to Aft Cabin in the Group III Caulfield Guineas Prelude and was regarded highly enough to contest the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. He did not strike a blow in either of those, and wins have been hard to come by since. His last win came a year ago to the day when he was successful over 1400m at Flemington.

Jamie Kah rode the son of Extreme Choice when he broke his maiden at his second start at Sale.

Now

Advertisement
training in partnership with Lucy Yeomans, Lloyd Kennewell said Meridius has been racing well with little luck.

“He has been a nice horse to us over the years and had little luck at the Gold Coast (third in the Magic Millions Rising Stars Plate),” Kennewell said.

“He got a 13 out of 10 by Jamie. We always thought a lot of him. He ran second in the Caulfield Cup Prelude and was beaten a length and a half in the Caulfield Guineas.

“It’s good to see him in the winner’s circle for a great bunch of owners.”

Meridius a $170,000 March Magic Millions yearling

Meridius a $170,000 March Magic Millions yearling

Meridius advances his record to three wins, three seconds, and two thirds from 17 starts with earnings of $478,640.

A $170,000 buy for Kennewell Racing/Group 1 Bloodstock P/L (FBAA) from the Grandview draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, Meridius is the only runner for Jardine, a 16-start maiden by Stryker.

A great-granddaughter of the exceptional broodmare Shantha’s Choice, Jardine was covered by Tiger Of Malay last spring after losing her filly foal by the son of Extreme Choice.

Meridius is the 12th stakes-winner for Newgate Farm’s Extreme Choice. 

Advertisment

Race Result - Quayclean C S Hayes Memorial Cup LR 1600m

Morphettville Track: Good(4) Time: 1:36.84
1
Meridius
- 4g Extreme Choice (AUS) x Jardine (AUS) (Stryker (AUS))
Tnr: L Kennewell & L Yeomans Rdr: Jamie Kah 54.5
2
0.7
Thirsty Guest
- 4g So You Think (NZ) x More Than Pronto (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: D Clarken & O Macgillivray Rdr: Jacob Opperman 54
3
1
I'm A Dexstar
- 4g Ambidexter (AUS) x Miss Aberdeen (AUS) (Mustin Lake (USA))
Tnr: Byron J Cozamanis Rdr: Rochelle Milnes 54
4
3.7
Second To Nun
- 4m Akeed Mofeed (GB) x Tidy Prophet (AUS) (Keep The Faith (AUS))
Tnr: W Clarken & N O'Shea Rdr: Kayla Crowther 54
5
4.6
Pool Pony
- 5g Shalaa (IRE) x Bellezza Nero (AUS) (Authorized (IRE))
Tnr: W F Francis & G Kent Rdr: Alana Kelly 54
6
6.8
Tapinforpar
- 4g Spieth (NZ) x Ready To Lift (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: G Richards & D Moyle Rdr: Lachlan Neindorf 54
7
7.3
Danish Fortune
- 6g Magnus (AUS) x Footsteps Of God (AUS) (Blackfriars (AUS))
Tnr: Darren McLeod Rdr: Teagan Voorham 56.5
8
7.4
Not Usual Glorious
- 7g Fiorente (IRE) x Temper Tantrum (AUS) (Hold That Tiger (USA))
Tnr: Travis Doudle Rdr: K Mc Evoy 60
9
8.6
Wild Imagination
- 6m Makfi (GB) x Scattered Dreams (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: R & C Jolly Rdr: Jake Toeroek 54.5
10
9.9
Disagreeable Miss
- 5m Dissident (AUS) x Another Flouze (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: R W Huxtable Rdr: Will Price 54
11
10.4
Midnight Mass
- 5g Proisir (AUS) x Midnight Gossip (NZ) (Showcasing (GB))
Tnr: Aaron Bain & Ned Taylor Rdr: D Tourneur 54
More Reading...
Vinery Sire Power a Classic Drawcard
Vinery Stud have a super draft of 33 to present at Inglis Classic and 20 of those horses are by the farm's proven stallions All Too Hard, Exceedance, Star Turn and Ole Kirk, who have all sired stakes-winners this season and the latter is currently the leading first season sire and leading 2YO sire in the country.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday February 4
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pierro 3YO Overdue for Breakthrough
Tony Pike has used the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) as a launchpad to Derby success on several occasions and he hopes to continue that trend with a pair of contenders on Saturday at Te Rapa.
Private Harry Half-Sister a Classic Star for Rheinwood Pastoral
Unbeaten three year-old Private Harry shot to fame when downing Golden Slipper winner Lady of Camelot to win the $3million Magic Millions Sunlight Plate last month and if you believe he has the potential to be a serious sprint star of the future, you’re going to be more than interested in his half-sister that will be offered at Inglis Classic next Monday morning.
Cool Classic for Newhaven Park
It’s never a long wait for the next Newhaven Park bred and sold stakes-winner to arrive with talented filly The Playwright taking out the Group III ATC Widden Stud Stakes last Saturday and it might not be long until the next with Cool Aza Beel colt Cobra Club engaged to run in the $2million Inglis Millennium.
Blue Diamond Tilt For The Playwright
Tricolours’ Racing boss James Moss has revealed tough Written By filly The Playwright is likely to make it three starts in three states with a Blue Diamond tilt in a wide ranging chat on the Tara Talks Racing podcast, including some of the theories behind a track record of finding cheap yearlings that become stakes winners.
Savaglee Ready to Take on Older Rivals
Savaglee has conquered all before him at age-group level in New Zealand, and on Saturday, the star colt will take on the older horses in a star-studded edition of the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m).
Unraced Trial Report – Smoke Alert!
Breednet report for unraced progeny of first season sires at the trials is often a good guide for stallions that are about to make a splash and regular trial watchers will notice one of our first season sires has thrown up a rocket.
Fast Track Applications Now Open
Applications for Thoroughbred Breeders Australia's (TBA) latest Fast Track program are now open. 
Inglis Millennium Barrier Draw
There is $2million up for grabs in the ATC Inglis Millennium (1100m) on Saturday with a full field, plus emergencies declared for the race which has a new favourite after Zoustar filly Price Tag drew gate 11, while the unbeaten stakes-winner With the Law will have to jump from gate 18.