Two of Gary Portelli s horses have been knocking on the door for a stakes win and with Encap finally breaking through at Rosehill, the trainer is hoping it’s Kimochi’s turn in the Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick.
Encap had a string of eye-catching minor placings before posting an emphatic victory in the Ming Dynasty Quality last weekend and on Saturday Kimochi gets her chance to shine following a brace of fast-finishing seconds in the Silver Shadow and Furious Stakes.
Both Princess Series races were over 1200 metres and Portelli can’t wait to see her step up to 1400 metres in the Tea Rose.
“She’s the one that has been banging on the door as well, so the fact Encap got through last week gives us more confidence that we can do it this week again,” Portelli said.
“I think she was looking for 1400 last start to tell the truth. That was the only concern I had going into the 1200 last start, that she was a horse that might not have that quick turn of foot over the journey.
“But I think this week we get the right race.”
A full field of 16 fillies will tackle the third leg of the four-race Princess Series with Kimochi drawing ideally in barrier five.
She has settled midfield or worse in her past two runs and rocketed home, but Portelli is keen to see her put in the race a touch earlier to ensure she isn’t outsprinted.
“Horses like Tiz Amazing have a quick turn of foot, where my filly is a bit of a builder and if she loses a length at a vital stage she’s got to make it up again, so we want to be right on our game when the pressure comes on,” he said.
“I want to be putting her in the race.”
Stablemate Fireburn will tackle the 7 Stakes (1600m) second-up after finishing just over two lengths from Saturday’s rival Pericles in the Tramway Stakes (1400m).
From an outside draw, Portelli will be happy to see her hitting the line late and says her performance on Saturday will determine their next move.
“We might go to Melbourne, it depends how dour she looks on the weekend. There’s the Stocks Stakes for fillies and mares’ to give her a look at the Valley,” he said.
“But nothing is set in stone for her. We’ll make a decision based on how she looks on the weekend.”