Gary Portelli confident Kimochi ready to produce bold showing in Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes

Kimochi hasn’t raced in close to a month but is ready to make her presence felt on day one of The Championships at Royal Randwick.

Trainer Gary Portelli is tipping underrated mare Kimochi will be well worth a patient wait as she attempts to orchestrate a Group 1 $2.5m TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) surprise at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Kimochi was an eye-catcher in her only start this campaign when flashing home for second in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes back on March 8 and Portelli has been eagerly anticipating her return to the autumn frame on day one of The Championships.

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“It’s been a long month,” Portelli declared.

“She is going good and had a really good gallop on Tuesday morning so I am really happy with her going in.

“She is proven at this level, running fourth in a Manikato at a track she didn’t like.

“This will be a tough race but she likes Randwick and she likes that space between runs so I think she’s a good chance.”

Kimochi was a three-time placegetter in Group 1s before finally enjoying a hard-earned day in the sun when she claimed the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last November.

Portelli has trained her purely as a sprinter this preparation with a focus on the TJ Smith Stakes and the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) a fortnight later during the Sydney autumn while a trip to Queensland in the winter also looms large.

What a win by Jedibeel in the Challenge Stakes 🤩

Fantastic ride by @G1TySchil 👏@BWiddupRacingpic.twitter.com/0Nn4lSQejP

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 8, 2025

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The Warwick Farm conditioner says Kimochi has been kept “nice and fresh” for her first of two Sydney Group 1 tests.

“She has a big motor and you don’t want to take anything away from them during the week,” Portelli said.

“We gave her that good gallop and we will keep it simple the rest of the week with her.”

Kimochi was dealt the outside draw in a final field of 13 runners for the T J Smith Stakes (1200m) with jockey Nash Rawiller set to chase his third win in the race and first since Takeover Target in 2009.

Portelli is in the hunt to claim a Group 1 treble this weekend with Encap ($26) set to back-up in the $4m Doncaster Mile (1600m) while long odds outsider Flying Argento ($201) sweats on a start as the first emergency in the $2m ATC Australian Derby (2400m).

Originally published as Gary Portelli confident Kimochi ready to produce bold showing in Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes