Button hoping ‘versatile’ Jemeldi can salute on Randwick raid

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It's a tick over 1000km and a 10.5-hour drive from Corbould Park on the to Royal Randwick Racecourse, but that is the journey that has taken with his unbeaten two-year-old Jemeldi.

The son of will tackle the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick this Saturday in a bid to gain a start in the $5 million Stakes.

, who admits he has never even been to Randwick, will saddle up his first interstate runner in the $200,000 event on Saturday, but that is if the boy from the bush can find his way around the Harbour City first.

Jemeldi put the writing on the wall with a dominant 2.25-length victory at on February 5, leading all the way in a 2YO Handicap over 1110m, with that win confirming Button's plans to head to the big smoke with his galloper.

“We're in Sydney as we speak – trying not to get lost,” Button told HorseBetting.

“First runner (in Sydney); I don't even think I've ever been to Randwick.

“I sort of thought before his last run, I thought if he wins and wins well, then there was always this race there for him – three weeks after, wise it just worked out pretty good to give him a shot at it.

“Turns out he won well and here we are.”

Both of Jemeldi's two career wins have come on rain-affected going – first at the Sunshine Coast on a Soft 5, then most recently on a Soft 7 at Doomben – so Button isn't too concerned about the Heavy 8 track forecasted at Randwick.

“There's a bit of rain around this week, so it'll be interesting to see how much rain comes,” he said.

The Queensland trainer also has to overcome the visitor's draw, having been dished up barrier 13 in the 16-horse field, but it will take a bit more than a wide barrier to phase Button.

“Who knows, on Saturday, it (wide on the track) might be the place to be,” Button continued.

“I'm not going to get down in the dumps about it – I'm just going to work with it.

“The beauty of him is that he's foolproof. He can punch forward or he can come back and sit off a few – he's versatile, so the jock will have a few options.

“Both his races have been on soft tracks, any heavier than that, I suppose you don't know – he's never really been on it.

“I've just got a suspicion that he will handle it; Soft 7 last start – he handled it no dramas at all.”

Button has booked one of Sydney's leading riders in Jason Collett for the Group 2 event, so he is hoping that his knowledge of the Randwick track will be beneficial for the visiting two-year-old.

Collett is coming off riding two winners at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, while he has ridden a further five winners at tracks in February alone.

“I'm happy to get him, and he obviously knows the place well and I thought that was important,” Button said.

“Obviously bringing a horse down that doesn't know it, I thought it was important getting a local jockey that's been there, done that.”

Button is yet to nominate the undefeated galloper for next month's Golden Slipper, but the $5 million carrot could be hard to ignore if Jemeldi can continue on his winning ways on Saturday.

Win, lose or draw, there is sure to be one hell of a party for connections, with over 15 owners making their way to Randwick on Saturday, and Button has offered a simple warning to fellow racegoers: “If he gets anywhere near the front at the top of the straight, I'm sure we'll know about it.”

Jemeldi is currently a +850 chance with Bovada to take out the Skyline Stakes on Saturday in what is a wide-open betting affair, with El Padrino the +500 favourite from the & stable.

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