No Port in a storm, please: Trainer’s eyes on skies ahead of Rosehill on Saturday

Gary Portelli, relieved to learn he will continue as the trainer of talented filly Kimochi, is on weather watch with stable trio, Ringarosa, Miss Hades and Flying Trapeze at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Trainer Gary Portelli is hoping the rain stays away for the sake of his runners at Rosehill on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Gary Portelli, relieved to learn he will continue as the trainer of talented filly Kimochi, is on weather watch with stable trio, Ringarosa, Miss Hades and Flying Trapeze at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The Rosehill course proper was rated a soft 5 on Thursday but with a bleak forecast for the weekend, Portelli is expecting a wet track surface.

Portelli confirmed if the track conditions deteriorate, his only confirmed Rosehill runner would be Ringarosa in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1200m).

“Ringarosa loves the wet,” Portelli said. “Her two runs have been enormous with big weights this time in.

“I do have her in at Warwick Farm on Wednesday so if the rain doesn’t come I might keep her for the midweeks.

“But if we get a wet track at Rosehill she’s in great order and has that terrific turn of foot.”

Ringarosa (no.5) wins at Warwick Farm last year. Picture: Bradley Photos

• Lunn’s scratching mystery: ‘Only myself, my wife had the code … neither of us made the call’

Portelli has Miss Hades entered for the EGroup Protective Services Handicap (1500m) and Flying Trapeze resumes in the Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1200m).

“I’m concerned for Miss Hades from that wide barrier and she doesn’t want it too wet,” Portelli said.

“Flying Trapeze is first-up and I want to look after him if the track does get heavy.”

Portelli was also delighted to be informed he will continue to train Kimochi next season after the filly was recently purchased by Yulong for $2.2 million.

A Group 2 placegetter as a juvenile, Kimochi had an excellent three-year-old season, winning the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes and being placed three times at Group 1 level with seconds in the Flight Stakes and Thousand Guineas, and a third in the Coolmore Classic.

My goodness she deserved that!

Kimochi finally gets a hard earned win in the Group 2 Light Fingers defeating a super Learning To Fly after a long lay off!

Jason Collett with a beautiful ride for @GaryPortelli. pic.twitter.com/B40yW0SHQ5

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 17, 2024

• Sonofdec’s connections spurn big money offers to chase Derby dream

“I will talk to Yulong about what they want to do with Kimochi next season,” Portelli said.

“But the main objective with her is to try and get a Group 1 win next to her name.”

Portelli will have some talent in his four-year-old ranks next season with classy duo Encap (winner of the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality and second in the Group 1 Golden Rose) and Kintyre (winner of the Group 2 Queensland Guineas and Group 3 Frank Packer Plate).

“Kintyre and Encap are having a break now over winter and then we will set them for The Golden Eagle,” Portelli said.

“Encap has shown he is up to that level and 1500m is perfect. Kintyre has kept improving this season and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do next season.”