Trainer Tom Button was rapt with Jemeldi’s gutsy placing in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, but has decided against extending the youngster’s Sydney autumn campaign.
The Caloundra-based trainer had never saddled up a runner further south than Murwillumbah when Jemeldi’s unbeaten run came to an end in the Group 2 feature.
Jemeldi went into the 1200-metre race unbeaten after wins at the Sunshine Coast and Doomben and fought on courageously for third to the David Atkins-trained Promitto on a waterlogged Randwick.
“It was a huge run and he had to do it tough sitting outside the leaders,” Button said.
“It was great to see him match it with some of the best two-year-olds around.
“I was rapt with his performance and he’ll go for a break now and won’t go for the Golden Slipper.”
Button will instead aim for the TAB Queensland Winter Racing Carnival with Jemeldi, whose ownership group hails from Central Queensland along with the Piccone family from Cairns.
“I haven’t picked out a race just yet for the winter,” Button said.
“I’m hoping he might be able to push out to 1400 metres as he gets a bit stronger and a race like the Sires’ Produce would be a nice race.
“But there’s no chance he’d run 1600 metres so the J.J. Atkins is out.”