Kemalpasa (Image: Racing Photos)
South Australian training duo David and Chantelle Jolly are mulling a path towards The All-Star Mile with talented galloper Kemalpasa.
The five-year-old, who won two Group races in Melbourne during the spring, was one of the nominations for March's $5 million race at The Valley, with Jolly senior keen to see if the horse can stretch out to a mile.
While The All-Star Mile is far from locked in as a target, David Jolly said it was certainly one of his options this autumn.
"We put him in (the nominations). We aren't sure if we are going to go there, but you've got to nominate for these things," Jolly said.
"He's had three weeks out, he's back in work (now). We either go two ways, we can keep him to the shorter ones and aim him to the Newmarket or we stretch him out to give him a run over 1400m and then The All-Star Mile is on following one of those runs.
"You never know if you don't have a go. But at this stage, it's all up in the air. We have nominated him and we will see how he comes up."
Jolly said Kemalpasa would return in either the Australia Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on January 22 or the Durbridge Stakes at Morphettville on January 30.
He said he'd be interested to see how Kemalpasa would go over more distance, adding a mile at The Valley would suit the horse.
"He won the Kevin Heffernan at 1300m. He's only had one start over 1400m as a three-year-old and only just got beat," Jolly said.
"I am sure he will run 1400m, no worries at all. But we have never really had the opportunity to stretch him out past that.
"He has got a high-cruising speed, makes his own luck. If it was a mile at Flemington it might be a different story, but around The Valley, you would think that kind of track would suit him."