Queen Of Clubs will have her chance to turn the tables on Apocalyptic when she contests Saturday’s Group 1 Flight Stakes at Randwick, with trainer Gary Portelli confident a better barrier draw is the key.
The filly charged home late for fourth in the Tea Rose Stakes after being forced back from a wide alley, but this weekend she comes up with gate four and is expected to settle closer.
“We knew when the barrier draw came out we were no hope of winning (the Tea Rose Stakes) so we were just hoping to see her hit the line like she did,” Portelli said. “She passed everything we were hoping to see from her.”
“I think she’s got second (Artistic Venture) and third (Tupukara) covered. I’m not sure about the winner but barriers win races and if she can be in a more prominent position early and hits the line like last time she will be fighting out the finish.”
Already a Rosehill winner over 1400m, Queen Of Clubs resumed this spring with a fast-finishing third in the Silver Shadow Stakes before her encouraging Tea Rose effort. Portelli believes the step up to the mile will suit perfectly.
“This horse has been crying out for it. She’s by a stallion that produces milers and 2000-metre horses so we’re pretty excited about her chances,” he said. “She’s flying. She put in a fantastic gallop (on Tuesday) morning and she is ready for the weekend.”
It’s a busy afternoon for the Portelli stable with Encap and Verona Rose running in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m), while Handloom and Whip Cracker line up in the Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) and Breeders’ Plate (1000m).
Handloom, Portelli’s first starter for Godolphin, finished second in her trial despite little luck in running, but faces a tough test from the outside barrier. Whip Cracker has drawn more favourably in gate four.
“Bjorn’s won the trial but my filly never got daylight until the last fifty (metres). She got stuck behind the leaders and had to bullock out,” Portelli said. “Toughness takes you a long way and I liked her run-on past the post.”
“I’ve won a Breeders’ Plate with Sejardan but I haven’t won a Gimcrack yet. Hopefully this is the year.”
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