KEY POINTS:
A nervous Beryl White stood alone in the rain at Rosehill on Saturday to watch the comeback of her star horse Eremein, but she was soon joined by a crowd of wellwishers after the six-year-old toyed with his rivals in the Festival Stakes.
The return of the multiple group one-winning gelding has added another element to the upcoming autumn carnival after the dreams of White and her fellow owner, husband Geoff, were thwarted by equine influenza (EI) in the spring.
Trainer Allan Denham praised Eremein who, despite a history of illness and injury, was turned out in exceptional condition for the 1500m listed race.
"When he went to the paddock because of EI, it was probably the first time he had been turned out injury-free," Denham said.
"To carry 61 kilos here on a heavy track and beat them as he did, well he made them look second rate."
Danny Nikolic had Eremein comfortably positioned with one runner behind him in the tightly-packed six-horse field led by Amianan, and brought him to the outside rounding the turn.
With a straight run ahead, the big gelding lengthened stride and was cheered home by punters despite the fact they let him drift from $2.80 to $4 with Alverta backed into $2.50 favouritism ahead of Amianan ($3.50).
Eremein had three lengths to spare over Lancaster Park ($101) with Beauty Watch ($6) another 1 1/4 lengths third. "I was very nervous today," White said.
Denham said he was not yet certain where Eremein would have his next lead-up to the Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 8.
"They have made it a bit easier to travel to Melbourne now. I'm still not sure whether he will have one run here before he goes or maybe race in the St George Stakes," Denham said.
"The main thing now is to get him home and make sure he has come through today okay. But it looks like it's all systems go."
Nikolic said he was conscious of Eremein's history before the race but the horse gave no cause for concern.
"His action was good which pleased me," he said.
"I slotted in and got a nice run and didn't want to move too soon because he had a big job to do on the shifty track.
"But he didn't put a foot wrong. He was dominant, he was in a different class."
Melbourne could also be the short- term destination for AJC Australian Oaks winner Rena's Lady who is back at the stable of trainer Gary Portelli following a minor setback.
She was nominated for a race at Rosehill on January 12 but came down with pharyngitis so Portelli abandoned his plans to run and sent her for a week of rest and recuperation.
"She developed a sore throat which they can get sometimes as an after- effect of EI (equine influenza).
"So we decided we'd send her out to the paddock just for a week," Portelli said.
"It's the best thing to clear up anything with a horse, to get them out and eating some grass."
Portelli has stables at Flemington which are managed by his brother Troy.
- AAP
