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Kementari's improved fitness and superior tactical speed gives him a decisive edge in a competitive Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington today.

Trainer James Cummings said Kementari is at his best after three runs from a spell, while form guru Gary Crispe believes the Godolphin stable star is best suited to adapt to the likely indifferent race tempo.

The Makybe Diva Stakes has a final field of 12 starters including eight individual Group 1 winners and features the return clash of Humidor and Kementari after they ran the quinella in the Memsie Stakes two weeks ago.

Cummings said Kementari has been "really bright" since his Caulfield effort and has been encouraged by the fouryear-old's trackwork this week.

"He's the fittest he's been this campaign and his work on Tuesday morning reflected that," Cummings said.

"His gallop on the course proper at Flemington was what I wanted to see, he's tightened up nicely. He picked up nicely from the six furlongs (1200m) and was full of running on the line, suggesting to me that he's coped well with his very impressive Memsie Stakes run.''

Crispe, from Racing And Sports, said the Memsie Stakes provides the obvious form reference but believes tomorrow's race will run very differently and this will suit Kementari.

"The first six across the line in the Memsie were separated by a single length so it was an evenly matched contest,'' Crispe said.

"Humidor, the winner of the Makybe Diva Stakes last year, surprised many by winning that Memsie Stakes over 1400m — a trip thought short of his best — but a solid tempo throughout played to his strength late.

"Jungle Edge, Dollar For Dollar and Vega Magic set up the strong tempo in the Memsie and none of that trio press on to Flemington, leaving a gaping hole at the front of the speed map.

"This could be the 'ace up the sleeve' for the Kementari camp as this horse has the tactical pace to be handy early — which would be an advantage, particularly if the race is not run at a genuine tempo."

Kementari, the Randwick Guineas winner in the autumn, has a peak Timeform rating of 125 while Happy Clapper and Humidor are both at 129 — ratings which sit well clear of what is usually required to win the Makybe Diva Stakes.

"Although Kementari rates below the very best of both Happy Clapper and Humidor, his potential map advantage, and the fact that Happy Clapper performed some way below his best when resuming, leaves him looking a terrific chance of success," Crispe said.

Crispe also believes King's Will Dream, rated at 123, is "on an upward spiral and it would be a surprise if he were not working strongly into the finish."

Article taken from Daily Telegraph, published Friday 14th September 2018, Author, Ray Thomas, Page 38.