2024 Festival Stakes: Trainer Gary Portelli mulls Kintyre tactics

Trainer Gary Portelli is banking on Kintyre’s versatility to be a significant advantage as chases a late carnival breakthrough in Saturday’s Group 3 $250,000 Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Trainer Gary Portelli is banking on Kintyre’s versatility to be a significant advantage as chases a late carnival breakthrough in Saturday’s Group 3 $250,000 Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.

A gloomy end to the week in Sydney looks set to make track conditions a major factor across this weekend’s 10-race card, with more rain forecast on race day in the city’s west.

Unlike some of his rivals this weekend, Kintyre handles all conditions with Portelli hoping he can make the most of a perfect draw to snare another stakes victory on the final day of spring.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

“He is pretty good on both kinds of tracks but his best win was a Group 3 on a heavy track so if it got that way it wouldn’t worry us,” Portelli said.

“I have said that I would have him ridden quietly at his next start but if that track becomes heavy and leaderish, we might have to go back to being on the pace.

“We have drawn a gate (barrier 6) that gives us an opportunity to be where we want so I will make up my mind on race day.

“If the rain does come, it might be a bog and getting back might not be the best option but if it doesn’t come I was hoping to ride him more conservative and coming with one big run.”

It was a great battle in the G3 Frank Packer Plate, with Gold Bullion getting the photo from Kintyre!@[e-mail]/RGfAYTw0Bl

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 20, 2024

• EXPERT TIPS: Professional punter James Molony’s race-by-race tips and analysis for 2024 Festival Stakes day at Rosehill

Kintyre failed to place in five spring runs but wasn’t disgraced in some of Sydney’s top races, including the Group 1 Epsom Handicap and Golden Eagle.

Portelli has kept the son of Hallowed Crown, the half-brother to his former Golden Slipper winner Fireburn, in work since the Golden Eagle and given him a tick over trial.

“We thought we would race on deeper into the carnival,” Portelli said.

“Realistically is he an autumn carnival horse? Probably not. He is probably a Brisbane Winter Carnival horse so we thought we would race on into the summer and get him in the back end of the autumn and get him up to Queensland to have a bit of fun with him.”

Jason Collett partners Kintyre in the Festival Stakes, in which the gelding is rated a $10 chance.

Little Dance winner St Lawrence ($5 favourite) has national premiership-winning trainer Ciaron Maher in the box seat to claim another feature event with Private Eye ($6) among his main rivals.

St Lawrence wins the Little Dance in a thrilling finish and @cmaherracing celebrate the Big - Little Dance double! 🙌@SchofieldChad | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/iANUddiE2M

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 5, 2024

• ‘I have good self-belief’: Young gun jockey Zac Lloyd has bigger goals in sight

Kintyre’s stablemate Queen Of Clubs will be on trial for a crack at the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January when the filly returns in the Ranvet 2YO Open Handicap (1100m).

The daughter of Maurice ran in the first in Sydney fillies race of the season, finishing eighth Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on October 5.

She is a $17 chance to shed her maiden at her second start with Reece Jones in the saddle.

“Queen Of Clubs has shown a lot at home but it’s whether she is strong enough yet to do it in Saturday company yet, we will see on the weekend,” Portelli said.

“She had a little let up after she went around in the Gimcrack, she is a Magic Millions horse and is on trial for that.”

Queen Of Clubs was a $300,000 Magic Millions purchase and Portelli said she was similar to his former two-year-old weapon Sejardan at the same age.

He believes she will be suited to getting over more ground in time.

“She is a very relaxed filly,” Portelli said.

“There is no doubt she is going to get further and I wouldn’t be surprised if she turns into a 1600m three-year-old.

“I am looking at the big picture going forward so I am not too worried about this weekend, I just want to see her run well and prove to me I have one of those early morning glory types.”

Queen Of Clubs has been given a trial in between since her maiden start, finishing third in a 802m heat on home turf at Warwick Farm on November 19.

Meanwhile, Portelli confirmed his latest Group 1 winner Kimochi is now enjoying some well earned time in the paddock following her recent success in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield.

Originally published as 2024 Festival Stakes: Trainer Gary Portelli mulls Kintyre tactics