*UPDATE - MNEMENTH PULLED UP SORE FOLLOWING A TRACK GALLOP AND WON'T BE RUNNIG THIS WEEKEND*
KEMBLA Grange trainer Mitch Beer’s grand sprinter Mnementh will go wherever its wettest this weekend.
Beer has left no stone unturned to find the most suitable surface for heavy track specialist Mnementh.
He has nominated the gelding in three States – all Listed races - after scrapping his earlier plan to head north for the Group 3 Healy Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
“We pulled the pin when it looked like being a good track, and I’m glad we made the decision to stay at home,” Beer said on Monday evening.
“Mnementh is entered for Royal Randwick, Flemington and the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, and surely we can get a heavy track somewhere for him.”
Unbeaten from three starts on heavy ground, the rising eight-year-old notched his 11th victory when successful in the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on June 8 on a ‘Heavy 9’, boosting his earnings to just over $687,000 in the process.
Beer has entered Mnementh for the Winter Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, the Santa Ana Lane Series Sprint Final (1200m) at Flemington, and Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the metropolitan meeting at the Sunshine Coast.
Mnementh provided Beer with his maiden black type triumph in the Series Sprint Final at Flemington 12 months ago, after contesting the Group 1 Goodwood Handicap (1200m) in Adelaide.
He carried 56kg in last year’s victory, and rises only 1kg.
Beer’s stable flag bearer had 53.5kg when he gave his trainer a second Listed success in the Bob Charley, and goes up 1.5kg for the Winter Stakes.
“Mnementh is terrific order,” Beer said. “I’m really pleased with how he has done since the Bob Charley.
“We will have a better idea about track conditions early Wednesday morning before acceptances for all three races close at 9am.
“Obviously if it’s wet in Sydney and at the Sunshine Coast, and dry in Melbourne, we will accept only for the Winter Stakes and Glasshouse Handicap.
“Then it it’s wet enough in Sydney, it’s easy to stay at home and run at Randwick rather than a 10-hour float trip to Queensland.”
Alysha Collett was Mnementh’s rider in the Bob Charley, but Beer on Monday evening had not confirmed a booking for Randwick.
He has Nikita Beriman, the first female to ride a Group 1 winner in Melbourne (Tears I Cry in the 2007 Emirates Stakes at Flemington) on standby for the Glasshouse if a decision is made to head north.
She has ridden 11 winners for Beer, who began his training career at Mornington before switching to Albury and is now firmly entrenched at Kembla Grange after relocating there last year.
He has prepared 235 winners, 32 of which have come so far this season.
Newcastle sprinter Ucalledit, trained by Kris Lees, won last year’s Winter Stakes with 57.5kg and has 58kg this time.
Unlike Mnementh, he is averse to heavy tracks, and is better suited on good and soft ground.
Story John Curtis, July 1, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos