Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Trainer Gary Portelli is hoping the decision to use apprentice Ellen Hennessy’s 3kg claim on speedster Spaceboy is the edge he needs to post a second-up win at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Gary Portelli (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The four-year-old, who has won four of his 24 starts with another 13 placings, carried 61kg when he resumed at Flemington two weeks ago and was run down in the shadows by Kalkarni Royale with 7.5kg less thanks to Will Price’s 1.5kg claim.

Portelli is offering no excuses for being beaten but believes with the advantage of Hennessy’s 3kg he feels with 56kg in the Fujitsu General Handicap (1100m) it presents an opportunity that is rare for Spaceboy.

“It’s hard to win once you get up in grade,’’ Portelli said.

“I’ve said to the owners our strike rate with him is going to be ordinary now he’s got to this level. The Sydney sprinters are hard to beat.

“He’s won $460,000 now so he’s done a good job to claw along without setting the world on fire, he’s won a lot of prizemoney and we've had a lot of fun.

“Ellen has been riding very well for me and has a good strike rate on my horses. She hasn’t ridden a bad race for me yet, she’s strong and she’ll suit the big fellow. To get 3kg off gets him right in the race.”

Spaceboy, $5 with TAB on Thursday, hasn’t won for just over 12 months since he collected a pair of Benchmark 78 races last July but has been Listed placed in that time.

Portelli said he considered using an apprentice in the gelding’s first-up run but given it was his first time racing down the straight course at Flemington he opted for the experience of Ben Melham.

“Ben rode him a treat but we just found one that claimed and was too good on the day,’’ he said.

“I had him pretty wound up but you’d have to think second-up, 1100m at Randwick, with realistically no weight on his back he’s going to be a huge chance.”

The Warwick Farm trainer is adamant Spaceboy is capable of competing at stakes level on soft and heavy tracks but is confident the conditions on Saturday will still be conducive to producing his best.

“In the summer a good track is probably a bit firm but a good track in the winter still has a bit of give in it. That’s all he needs, if he can get his toe in the ground he’s fine,’’ he said.

Hennessy is charged with the job of riding all three of Portelli’s Randwick hopes and the trainer lays the blame squarely on himself for Not Feint Hearted’s form in two runs since a spell.

He says the gelding can surprise a few in the Moet & Chandon Handicap (1400m) even though all three wins have come on heavy tracks and he was beaten eight lengths in a Midway three weeks ago.

“His first-up run was good, we drew wide, Ellen rode him to my instructions and they were the wrong instructions as it turned out,’’ he said.

“We wanted to get back and get home, he jumped so well she had to drag him to get back. By that time the race got going again so it was a waste of time. Last start we went forward in a fast run race and he couldn’t pick his feet up.

“With 51.5kg on his back, 1400m, he’s ready to peak. Whether he can win or not I’m not sure but he’s going to run up to his best.”

Lord Zoulander wins at Randwick on July 17

Portelli’s recent Midway winner Lord Zoulander faces a completely different test in Saturday’s 1300m renewal of the $100,000 race compared to what presented when he scored an easy win on July 17.

He has a good track and a wide gate to contend with as opposed to a favourable draw and a heavy track and Portelli concedes he’s not as excited about the horse’s chances this time around.

“But I’d suggest this isn’t the strongest race so he should roll forward from that gate and get into a spot,’’ he said.

“He’s very good when it’s soft, but he’s fit and well and winning form is good form.

“We’re hoping to see him run well, statistics are usually right and more than likely he will need some rain but we’ll have a throw at the stumps and see how he goes.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting