Gary Portelli bypassing William Reid Stakes with Group 1 winner Kimochi but 16 entries for The Valley event

Lessons learned convinced Sydney trainer Gary Portelli to keep Kimochi fresh for a Sydney Group 1 test next month but an abundance of sprinting talent is likely to line up in Saturday’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes at The Valley.

Kimochi will stay in Sydney to compete during The Championships instead of heading to Melbourne for Saturday’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes at The Valley. Picture: Racing Photos

Early equal second favourite Kimochi was not among the 16 entries for Saturday’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.

And she was never going to be nominated for the $1 million event.

Kimochi sat on the second line of William Reid Stakes betting at $6 behind the $4.50 favourite, Oakleigh Plate winner Jimmysstar, leading up to Monday’s nomination deadline.

However, Sydney trainer Gary Portelli said a sprint during The Championships was Kimochi’s next target.

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“I don’t know why everyone thought we were coming,” Portelli said.

“Nobody even mentioned the William Reid.

“She’s going to be kept nice and fresh for the TJ Smith (Stakes) at Randwick, four weeks between runs.”

Kimochi does enough late to hit the front for her maiden Group One win in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes! 🙌@[e-mail]/B7ZMus0UTP

— Racing.com (@Racing) November 16, 2024

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Kimochi finished fourth to Southport Tycoon in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes at her only run at The Valley last spring.

Portelli said the way the Yu Long Investments-owned mare handled The Valley was part of the reason for bypassing the William Reid Stakes.

“She never really got comfortable around The Valley with that sort of pressure in the Manikato,” Portelli said.

“You just can’t turn up and run them. You’ve got to actually work them towards the race by giving them a hard gallop, putting her on a truck and travelling down and all these sorts of things.

“This time in, I just want to pick off races with her on the fresh side.”

Oakleigh Plate winner Jimmysstar is the opening ‘all-in’ favourite for Saturday’s Group 1 William Reid Stakes at The Valley. Picture: Getty Images

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Retired Kiwi star Imperatriz has won the past two editions of the William Reid Stakes while mares have won five of the last six runnings of the weight-for-age feature.

Mares again head the entries for the 2025 William Reid Stakes with the Ciaron Maher-trained I Am Me and Benedetta, from the Jason Warren camp, topping the ratings on 112 and 111 respectively.

Maher has four William Reid Stakes contenders with Estriella, Growing Empire and Jimmysstar among the nominations.

JIMMYSSTAR FROM THE CLOUDS! 🚀

He wins his first Group 1 for @cmaherracing 🥰@Brown_ethan8pic.twitter.com/algd0AOjsw

— Racing.com (@Racing) February 22, 2025

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Oakleigh Plate runner-up She’s Bulletproof is also a likely runner as is Lightning Stakes and Newmarket Handicap placegetter Stretan Angel.

Jimmysstar’s ‘all-in’ price tightened to $2.80 after Monday’s nominations, leaving him the clear favourite ahead of She’s Bulletproof at $5.

Stretan Angel holds the third line of betting at $6 ahead of Benedetta, I Am Me and the Australia Stakes winner Schwarz at $11.

Arabian Summer, Estriella, Growing Empire, Maharba and Rey Magnerio are $15 chances in opening ‘all-in’ betting on the penultimate Melbourne Group 1 race of the season.

Originally published as Gary Portelli bypassing William Reid Stakes with Group 1 winner Kimochi but 16 entries for The Valley event