Trainer David Hayes sees Rimraam as “the ideal 2000m filly”, so the mile (1600m) of Friday’s Group 3 Carlton Draught Kembla Grange Classic should “be perfect for her.”
The Surround Stakes placegetter has shown she has speed in her legs this preparation winning the Vanity in Melbourne before heading north. But Hayes has always thought she would get better the further she goes into her preparation.
“I think this mile, and it is a tough mile at Kembla, will be perfect for her heading into 2000m Group 1s later in the preparation,” Hayes said.
“She is a deadset 2000m horse, I think, and maybe, two of her best runs have been at that trip on Caulfield Cup day and Derby day when she was runner-up in the Ethereal (Stakes) and third in the Wakeful (Stakes).
“We worked out she doesn’t stay in the Oaks. The way she has come back shows the improvement in her from the spring. She has been very good at 1400m in a couple of runs but I think she will come into her own at the mile and in the Vinery Stakes and Oaks in Adelaide.
“This race fits right in her preparation and she is ready to get a bit more black type. She comes in with a couple of solid runs behind her.”
Rimraam will be one of the favourites for the Kembla Grange Classic, along with the Clarry Conners-trainer Torvill, which was runner-up in the Surround Stakes.
“I think that is the right form line and you can see the fillies that are getting ready for the longer trips,” Hayes said. “She will be up on the speed again and they will have to run her down.”
View the final fields with full form & race replays for Kembla Grange here