Kimochi on target for All Aged Stakes tilt
Trainer Gary Portelli will pin his hopes on talented mare Kimochi this weekend as she returns to the 1400m trip for the Group 1 All-Aged Stakes at Randwick, the final major race day of Sydney’s autumn carnival.
The race, along with the Champagne Stakes (1600m) for two-year-olds, wraps up the elite-level racing action in New South Wales for the season.
Kimochi has been building well this preparation, producing a strong second placing in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes and a brave fifth from a wide barrier in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes.
Portelli has had the All-Aged Stakes on the radar for some time, especially after Kimochi claimed the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over this distance during the spring carnival.
“She’s come through the run well (in the TJ Smith) and she’s in good order,” Portelli said.
“It’s a perfect preparation, she had a month between runs from first-up to second-up and two weeks to the third-up run.
“I’m pretty happy with her but it’s a pretty tough race.”
Barrier draw will be key for Kimochi, who had no favours last start when forced to race three-wide from gate 13 in the TJ Smith Stakes.
“It was a good run,” Portelli said.
“She was trapped three-wide and just kept battling away. Nash was pretty confident that had we drawn a better gate we would have got a better result.
“The 1400m is a perfect distance for her. It’s always been a race we thought would be a perfect race for her over the seven furlongs at Randwick but it’s going to be a strong All-Aged Stakes. We know what we’re up against but she’ll run well if she draws well.”
Meanwhile, stablemate Encap will step out over 2000m for the first time in the Group 3 JRA Plate, following his eye-catching third in the Doncaster Mile.
Portelli hopes Saturday’s effort will guide future plans, with races like the Hollindale Stakes and Doomben Cup on the table, or alternatively a freshen-up for the Stradbroke Handicap.
“We’ve always been wanting to try him at 2000m and he’s in such good order that I think now is the time to try,” Portelli said.
More Racing News
Midnight Dynamite's Path to the Big Dance After Rosehill Win
Connections of Midnight Dynamite are keen to see the horse contest a $3 million prize following his commanding performance in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill.Having added Saturday's stakes race to his triumph in last month's Listed Civic Stakes (1400m), the gelding is now slated for the Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m)...
Bold Soul's future may be over jumps after Flemington success
Connections have found Bold Soul, trained by Patrick Payne, to be a good earner on the flat, but his future might be better suited to hurdles.Bold Soul secured the Deane Lester Flemington Cup 1849 (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday, adding to his seven prior wins from 33 starts and boosting...
Sword Of Legacy's determined win follows Band Of Brothers' Ramornie success
Matthew Dunn's stable has enjoyed a prosperous week, capped by Sword Of Legacy's hard-fought victory at Rosehill. This triumph arrived just three days after Band Of Brothers, carrying the same lime, purple, and gold Hesket Thoroughbreds silks of David Moodie, captured the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton.Sword Of Legacy, sent out...
Ko Phangan claims Byerley Handicap at Flemington
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable continues its impressive run in qualifying races for Classic contenders with Ko Phangan's recent victory at Flemington.Ko Phangan's win in the Byerley Handicap (1800m) secures a coveted ballot exemption for either the Victoria Derby (2500m) or the VRC Oaks (2500m) during the Melbourne...
Joint Venture earns carnival ticket with Rosehill triumph
A late-developing two-year-old, Joint Venture, is now in contention for the initial three-year-old feature races after securing a crucial win at Rosehill.The impeccably bred son of I Am Invincible, a $625,000 yearling acquisition for the Newgate stallions syndicate, displayed significant progress from his debut second at Wyong, asserting his class...
Betwitchery ready to extend winning streak first-up
Betwitchery is set to extend her winning sequence as she makes her return to the racetrack at Flemington.The Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained mare is scheduled to begin her new racing campaign in the VRC Member Brendan Sobozynski Plate, a 1200-metre contest, this Saturday.Betwitchery, who has won five...
Littlefield targets Magnolia Cup after Flemington engagements
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield is scheduled to travel back to the UK in approximately a week to participate in a charity race at the renowned Glorious Goodwood Festival.The Magnolia Cup is a distinguished charity event this year supporting Education Above All. It aims to gather funds to ensure access to education,...
General Salute set for Winter Challenge under favourable wet conditions
The arrival of overnight rain has alleviated Sterling Alexiou's primary concern regarding General Salute's prospects in the final black-type race of the Sydney season, following his recent victory in the Winter Stakes.All four of the gelding's previous wins have been recorded on rain-affected tracks. Earlier in the week, with Rosehill...
Burning Heartz set for Adelaide Stakes test
Trainer Gavin Bedggood envisions a future for Burning Heartz in an Oaks race, but his immediate goal is to secure some valuable Stakes black type for the filly.Burning Heartz, a winner on debut at Sandown on July 1, is now heading to Adelaide to contest the Group 3 South Australian...
King Pedro defies odds in thrilling Grafton Cup victory
King Pedro has cemented his credentials for the spring staying races following an exceptional display to win the Listed Grafton Cup, navigating a slow-paced affair.Trainer Tom Charlton, observing from his Sydney base, admitted to initial apprehension regarding the track's bias against backmarkers. These nerves were amplified when Tahlia Fenlon, on...