Trainer Gary Portelli praying for a ‘Nash Rawiller special’ aboard Kimochi in 2025 All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick

Nash Rawiller has pulled off some unforgettable riding performances over the years at Sydney’s Autumn Carnival and could get the opportunity to deliver another aboard Kimochi in this week’s main event.

Trainer Gary Portelli is confident Kimochi is going well enough to win Saturday’s Group 1 $1.5 million All Aged Stakes (1400m) but concedes she may need a “Nash Rawiller special” at Royal Randwick.

Rawiller has pulled off some unforgettable riding performances over the years at Sydney’s Autumn Carnival and could get the opportunity to deliver another in this week’s main event.

The headliner of the final day of the Sydney Autumn Carnival has drawn a near capacity field but Kimochi’s awkward draw has given Portelli cause for concern.

Kimochi has drawn barrier 10 with almost all her main rivals inside of her.

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“You could drop a pin and find the winner of this race,” Portelli said.

“Briasa has drawn a gate to win the race, the three-year-old (Broadsiding) has drawn a gate to get every chance and most of the chances have drawn well so it’s just made a bit tricky because we could end up in no man’s land from that gate.

“We just have to hope for a Nash Rawiller special.”

A wide draw proved the thorn in Rawiller and Kimochi’s side last start in the TJ Smith Stakes in which she jumped from the outside.

The daughter of Brave Smash was three-deep on speed before battling on bravely to finish fifth against a collection of the best sprinters in the land.

Briasa is brilliant in the G1 T J Smith Stakes! He makes it 7 wins from just 9 starts as he races away for @HawkesRacing and @G1TySchil! 💨@aus_turf_club | @WorldPoolpic.twitter.com/ee1N0fCLm4

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025

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“I just thought she was good enough to win the race if we got some luck and we were planning to give her a kick out and get up outside Overpass but unfortunately we couldn’t cross and it worked against us,” Portelli said.

“She did a good job to battle on for fifth.

“We haven’t drawn much better this weekend unfortunately, she is going to need a bit of luck.

“She is spot on but we just need a good ride and a bit of luck in the run.”

Kimochi, winner of the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes last spring, was $15 out to $17 shortly after All Aged Stakes betting opened with Briasa at $3.90 and Jimmysstar $6.

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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Stablemate Encap fared much better when barriers were revealed on Wednesday as the gelding prepares to jump from barrier three in the Group 3 $250,000 JRA Plate (2000m).

Encap produced one of the runs of the race in the Doncaster Mile last start when surging home through the pack to finish third behind Stefi Magnetica and Royal Patronage.

He has never been tested over more than a mile during his 21-start career but Portelli believes the time is right to give him a crack over the trip.

“He has been running like a horse that is looking for it,” he said.

“The only thing that has stopped me really has been his pedigree.

“He is by Capitalist and has a lot of speed to his family and the only reason why hadn’t tried the 2000m because I hadn’t been game enough.

“The back of his run there at Randwick, he was strong through the line so I thought now he was the time to have a crack.”

Stradbroke winner Stefi Magnetica reigns supreme in the G1 Doncaster Mile, as @BBakerRacing and Jason Collett celebrate another success ! 🙌@aus_turf_club | @WorldPoolpic.twitter.com/13Mkg5tEdS

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025

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Portelli has Tenderize in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) while Group 2 winner Kintyre jumps from a wide alley in the 4 Pines Pace Setters Benchmark 100 Handicap (1400m).

“Kintyre has drawn badly too,” he said.

“We haven’t been pulling many decent gates lately and it’s quite frustrating but he is ready to win with the right luck.

“Tenderize should start the day off well and has drawn a gate where he should come in a few once the emergencies come out. He is racing very consistently and is holding his form.”

Portelli confirmed classy filly Verona Rose had pulled up well from her sixth placing in the Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks with the stable set to “weigh up everything over the next week or so”.

He ruled out a crack at Adelaide’s Australasian Oaks however there is an option to run the filly in Queensland.

Originally published as Trainer Gary Portelli praying for a ‘Nash Rawiller special’ aboard Kimochi in 2025 All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick