By John Schell
September 30, 2023 — 6.00pm
Warwick Farm trainer Gary Portelli will break new ground on Sunday when he sends four leading chances to Cootamundra for its cup meeting.
Portelli has Miss Hades in the South West Slopes Credit Union Maiden Handicap (1100m), Deep Fury in the Cootamundra Ex-Services Class 1 & Maiden Plate (1600m), Ferrari Girl in the Australian Meat Group Class 1 Handicap (1200m) and Amazing Nicci in the Central Hotel Anderson Memorial Benchmark 66 Handicap (1100m).
Trainer Gary Portelli will have runners at Cootamundra for the first time on Sunday.Credit: Getty
“They will be the first horses I’ve ever sent to Cootamundra,” said Portelli. “Let’s hope it’s a successful first-up trip down there for us.”
Portelli has stable apprentice Julia Presits down to ride all four horses at Cootamundra, and he is confident she can get the job done.
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“Julia does a good job for us and I’m more than happy to give her the opportunities that she gets,” Portelli said. “She knows the horses well so with a bit of luck she can get a couple of winners.”
Miss Hades has only had one start for a third placing at Nowra, and Portelli rates her a good chance at Cootamundra. “It was a solid debut performance,” he said. “She’s drawn well and the 1100m should suit her.”
Deep Fury is stepping up to the 1600m on Sunday having dropped back to 1300m last time out when third at Goulburn.
“I dropped him back from 1400m to 1300m at his last start and I knew with 600m to go that I’d done the wrong thing,” Portelli said. “He’s looking for further now so that’s why he’s up to the mile at Cootamundra. It looks a nice race for him.”
Ferrari Girl is back from a freshen-up in her event, and Portelli said she has some claims. “I think she’ll derive benefit from the run but she is a last start winner and a forward showing would not surprise. She can give some cheek,” he said.
Amazing Nicci rounds out the Portelli team, and the trainer rates her as a leading contender. “She was really good last time out at Goulburn,” he said. “A few more strides and she wins there. If she can repeat that performance then she’ll be very hard to hold out.”
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