Encap’s rise from ‘hopeless’ colt to racetrack star will be complete with victory in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas

A quiet gelding trainer Gary Portelli describes a “such a dude”, Encap takes on a different persona on the racetrack which could land him a Group 1 Randwick Guineas win on Saturday.

Encap is the racehorse with a split personality – quiet and docile around the stables but once he steps onto a racetrack he is struck by white-line fever.

The emergence of Encap into an elite racehorse seemed a fanciful fable only a few months ago when he couldn’t get out of his own way at trackwork and was gelded as a last resort.

But at Royal Randwick on Saturday, the unexpected rise and rise of Encap continues as he attempts to bring down some of the nation’s most valuable three-year-old colts in the $1m Randwick Guineas (1600m).

The Guineas can make or break potential stallion careers and the likes of Militarize, Celestial Legend and Tom Kitten can secure their future at stud by winning the classic.

Encap’s long-term future is on the racetrack and he could be trainer Gary Portelli’s “headline horse” for a number of seasons.

Encap breaks his maiden in style in the G3 Ming Dynasty! @[e-mail]/67ouhach5X

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 9, 2023

The story has its genesis at the 2022 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale when Portelli took a shine to the colt and the trainer’s bid of $200,000 was enough to take the horse back to his Warwick Farm stables.

Encap was a striking chestnut colt, not overly tall but with a muscular, powerful physique and impeccable breeding.

“When I saw his (pedigree) page, it was full of Golden Slipper winners,” Portelli said.

“He is by Capitalist out of a Stratum mare and seemed to have plenty of two-year-old potential. He was a yearling that suited me.

“In the ‘promo’ I used to advertise the horse to my clients, I said I had never been more confident of a horse being a two-year-old.”

Encap’s pedigree also traces back to two of the Golden Slipper’s greatest-ever winners, Luskin Star (1977) and Vain (1969), and the legendary stallion Danehill, sire of five Golden Slipper winners.

Portelli, 55, is acknowledged as a master trainer of two-year-olds having prepared two Golden Slipper winners with She Will Reign (2017) and Fireburn (2022) but Encap’s pedigree page promise and physical presence didn’t translate into racetrack performance – well, not initially.

The trainer quickly realised his hopes of a third win in the world’s richest juvenile race with Encap were over before they even began.

“Encap couldn’t get out of his own way at trackwork,” Portelli revealed.

“As a colt, he was built like a bodybuilder but he was cumbersome. He was too heavy and bulky. He was really struggling mentally, too.

Encap caught the eye of Gary Portelli at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. Picture: Inglis

“It was obvious he needed to be gelded because he would have been worth nothing as a colt, he was absolutely hopeless.”

Gelding a racehorse is not the panacea for every equine problem but there are many examples of how this procedure can make a racehorse.

Perhaps the most famous case is the legendary champion Kingston Town. At his two-year-old debut at a Canterbury midweek meeting back in 1979, he ran a long last, beaten more than 100m and was immediately spelled and then gelded.

Kingston Town returned a complete racehorse, winning 30 of his next 40 starts from 1200m to 3200m including 14 wins at Group 1 level and became the nation’s first million dollar stakes winner.

It is doubtful Encap will have a racetrack career that mirrors “The King” but Portelli’s patience and perseverance has provided his stable with a genuine top class racehorse now.

“Gelding him was the best decision we have ever made,” Portelli said.

“He has become the quietest horse, you could walk him into the members and take him upstairs and he would stand at the bar with you, he is such a dude.”

Encap, named after his sire and dam, Capitalist and Enquare, went shin-sore after his debut third at Warwick Farm 12 months ago then returned to racing during the winter months.

“When we brought him back in, he trialled at Hawkesbury and went terribly, showing no speed at all,” Portelli said.

"Kingston Town can't win."

Let's re-live the 1982 Cox Plate with Kingston Town. 💛 pic.twitter.com/6FzkZ1u12S

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 19, 2021

“I was worried, I can tell you. So, we sent him for another trial at Rosehill, I added the blinkers and I put Louise Day on, telling her not to let him think about it, stand over him and make him run.

“Encap was three deep in and was ridden out to win the fastest trial of the day.”

Portelli then sent Encap back to the races and for the first time, the “white line fever” emerged – the fierce determination that is making the three-year-old competitive at the top level.

“I then took him to Warwick Farm and he was unlucky running second. I never had a horse finish as fast as him, it was a phenomenal run,” Portelli said.

“But I wanted to see him do that again so we went back to Warwick Farm and although he should have won, he showed that scintillating turn of foot again.”

Emboldened by Encap’s racetrack performances, Portelli tested his three-start maiden at Group 3 level in the Up And Coming Stakes where he was bereft of luck yet again before finishing a close third to Tom Kitten.

But Encap broke through next start winning the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality from Ceolwulf and Tom Kitten before finishing the closest of seconds to Militarize in the Group 1 Golden Rose.

After Encap ran fifth in Makarena’s Tapp-Craig, Portelli spelled the three-year-old over summer while finalising ambitious autumn carnival plans.

Portelli conceded there was some nervous anticipation ahead of Encap’s comeback in the Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill last month.

Celestial Legend gets it done in the Hobartville! @KPMcEvoypic.twitter.com/VXaoF2hFVz

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 24, 2024

Encap was trapped three and four wide without cover during the race cut still surged to the front halfway down the straight before Celestial Legend accelerated past him near the line.

“You always worry when they have a big spring how they come up in the autumn,” Portelli said.

“Sometimes a different group of horses can develop and emerge in autumn but Encap showed in the Hobartville he’s one who has developed so that is great.

“He was three-deep with no cover around Rosehill and they usually get run over at the furlong. They all had their chance to beat him and Les’s horse (Bridge, trainer of Celestial Legend) had the softer run and was the only one to get past him.”

TAB fixed odds betting on the Randwick Guineas has Encap at $8.50 behind only favourite Militarize ($2.50), Celestial Legend ($3.90) and Tom Kitten ($6.50).

Portelli might have trained more naturally talented racehorses but few with Encap’s determination.

If luck had been a friend, Encap’s race record would read a lot better than one win and seven minor placings from nine starts for prizemoney of nearly $500,000 but the promising three-year-old has an opportunity to significantly enhance his record this autumn.

Encap is another example of how Portelli has developed an unheralded racehorse to be a big-race contender.

Portelli doesn’t have huge numbers in work, he has about 40 in full training at Warwick Farm, but he has prepared the likes of Golden Slipper winners She Will Reign and Fireburn, Rebel Dane, Gold Trail, Rena’s Lady, Sejardan and Kimochi.

He always seems to have a topliner in his care with Encap flying the stable flag this autumn carnival.

Trainer Gary Portelli with his son, Harper, and jockey Jason Collett celebrate the win of Kimochi in the Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick. Picture: Getty Images

Full Metal Jacket, also a son of Capitalist, makes his debut for the Portelli stable in an outstanding renewal of the Group 2 $300,000 Todman Stakes (1200m).

The trainer revealed he is getting a little more help these days with his son, Harper, showing an interest in becoming a racehorse trainer and shadowing his father on race days.

“Harper is already talking about taking over Portelli Racing when he is old enough and he is working with me on the weekends,” Portelli said.

“I only want him to do it if he wants to because training takes up your life. It becomes a lifestyle and you have to give up a lot in this job.

“I might have another 10 years or so and then he will be in his 20s and have the confidence to do this job.

“You need to have the backing behind you to make it in this game because it’s a big step and you can go broke very easily but he will have me there to help him if this is what he wants to do.”

Despite his continued success over nearly three decades, Portelli concedes it is becoming tougher to compete in the cauldron of Sydney racing.

“It is a lot harder than people think,” Portelli said.

“We don’t have the numbers in work of some of the bigger stables and it’s very hard to stay relevant because you are only as good as your last winner.

“So, it is fulfilling when we come up most years with horses like Encap that are racing at the top level.”

Originally published as Encap’s rise from ‘hopeless’ colt to racetrack star will be complete with victory in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas