Those who envisaged Gary Portelli celebrating Kimochi’s Randwick stakes win over a sumptuous dinner and a bottle of champagne, couldn’t have been more mistaken. After checking the mare’s post race recovery, the amiable trainer pointed his car in a westerly direction and set off for the central western town of Parkes, 250 kms away. His partner Renae, an expert horsewoman in her own right, had a commitment to help judge pony class events at the Parkes Show. Gary was keen to get her there, and to assist in any way he could. Instead of the ritzy restaurant with a menu to match, the couple grabbed a late snack at the Lithgow Red Rooster Drive Through.
Just a few months ago Portelli wasn’t even sure Kimochi would remain in his stable after being knocked down to Yulong Investments for $2.2 million at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale. To that point in time the daughter of Brave Smash had raced with great distinction against the best three year old fillies in the nation. Her spring campaign last year brought placings in all four legs of the Princess Series, a third in the listed Desirable Stakes at Flemington and a second to Joliestar in the Thousand Guineas before going for a brief spell. She returned in February for a four race campaign which yielded a win in the Gr 2 Light Fingers Stakes, and a cracking third in the Coolmore Classic, her third Gr 1 placing.
Kimochi beat quality fillies learning to fly and Kristilli in the Gr. 2 Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick 17/02/2024. Jason Collett was the rider - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Kimochi was back in the paddock for an extended break when owner Leo To informed Gary of his decision to sell the talented filly. “It was the first decent break she’d had since coming into work as a two year old, and I was supremely confident her best days were yet to come,” said the trainer. “I fully understood Leo’s decision but tried hard to talk him out of it. He has sixty broodmares and massive overheads, so he has to trade a horse or two every now and again. Obviously, I expected her to be purchased by a big operation and gave up all hope of seeing her again.
I saw Yulong General Manager Vin Cox at the Chairman’s Sale and made sure he had my phone number, but my spirits were low. Imagine my delight when Vin called a week later to tell me a set of the Yulong colours were on their way to my place. I was delighted to meet Mr Yueshen Zhang when he visited my Warwick Farm stables with his interpreter a few months ago. You could have knocked me over with a feather when he went straight to my pigeon loft. It turns out he and I share a deep interest in pigeon racing. He closely inspected some of my birds and liked what he saw. I was stunned when he told me his pigeons compete in races worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in China. He was amused to learn my star pigeon earned $1000 for a recent win.”
Trainers can never be sure fillies and mares will recapture their form of previous preparations, and it’s likely this thought was in Gary’s mind as the now four year old Kimochi lined up against some soundly performed female athletes in Saturday’s Gr 3 James Squire Toy Show Quality. Even though a wide run isn’t a massive disadvantage from the 1100m start, the trainer could have done without the anguish of seeing Kimochi planted three deep outside The Black Cloud and Dancing Alone right around that big sweeping Randwick turn. He pumped the fist when she struck the front 100m out, but was fully aware that lack of racing might tell in the dying stages. Even though Commemorative flashed late, Kimochi did enough to score a heartening first up win for her new owners.
Kimochi holds off the fast finishing Commemorative to win the Toy Show Quality - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Kimochi’s stablemate Encap was the only other stable runner on the day in the Hyland Race Colours Show County Quality. Having his first outing in four months, the four year old gelding finished only seventh a little over five lengths from the winner Joliestar, but Portelli was satisfied. “He was definitely in the slowest part of the track down the running and according to Jason Collett he had a very big blow on pulling up,” said the trainer. “It’s hard to believe this horse has won only one race, but the reason is obvious when you look at his record. He was a maiden when he won the Gr 3 Ming Dynasty Quality beating horses like Tom Kitten and Kintyre. From that point on he had to race against stiff opposition. He ran third in the Gr 3 Eskimo Prince, second in the Gr 2 Hobartville, a close up fifth in the Gr 1 Randwick Guineas and sixth beaten just over two lengths in the Gr 1 George Ryder. By the time he got to the All Aged Stakes last preparation, he was over the top. You can see why he’s won only one race.”
You can detect the lilt in Gary Portelli’s voice when he talks about a lightly raced three year old colt called Iron Hawk whose two race starts have created a big impression. After two average trials in early July he had few friends at $41.00 when he stepped out for a better than average Warwick Farm midweek maiden at the end of the month.
The Godolphin duo Alpine Ski and Silmarillion dominated betting on the race with good support forthcoming for the Maher trained Qatars Choice. With Reece Jones in the saddle Iron Hawk dawdled out of the gates and was spotting leader Our Little Star six lengths approaching the turn. He showed natural race sense in splitting two leaders 100m out before charging away to win with authority. Gary Portelli was delighted to see Silmarillion beat all but Ameena in Saturday’s Gr 2 Silver Shadow Stakes.
Gary expects Iron Hawk to win better races than this Warwick Farm maiden on 31/07/2024. Reece Jones in the saddle - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Much in the manner of Encap this time last year, Iron Hawk stepped up in class on August 17th when third in a very strong BM 72 at Rosehill. He was comfortably beaten by promising horses Autumn Glow and Dawn Service, but was strong to the line and can only continue to improve. “He’s just one of those unassuming horses who keeps getting better,” said Gary. “You can only follow your instincts as a trainer, and I’m going to give him a chance in black type company next time. He’ll run in the 1300m Gr 3 Up And Coming Stakes at Rosehill Gardens next Saturday. We’ll plan his path forward for the spring after that race. I do think he’s a very nice colt going forward.”
Gary’s plans for Kimochi are grand to say the least. A three week gap to the Sheraco Stakes on September 14th has been his intention all along. That progression looks even more appropriate now in view of the mare’s tough run last Saturday. “She’s classy and has come back a stronger mare this time in,” said the trainer. “Let’s see what she does in the Sheraco Stakes in two and a half weeks. Call me a dreamer if you will, but I haven’t given up on an Everest slot yet. This game is all about dreams, and I can dream with the best of them.”
Gary Portelli - A trainer of astute judgement has 8 Gr. 1 wins on his CV - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
(Banner image - Kimochi gets home in the Toy Show carrying the Yulong colours for the first time - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)