Gary Portelli’s confidence in stable ironhorse O’Crikey was dented when the trainer took a peek at the acceptances for Saturday’s Schweppes Handicap at Warwick Farm.
The eight-year-old gelding is on the verge of reaching a milestone of $500,000 in career prize money, but the presence of the Joe Pride-trained Tiger Tees in the 1300m contest has Portelli worried.
“He (O’Crikey) is a great old ironhorse, a sound horse that loves racing, but I’m just very disappointed Tiger Tees has turned up in this race,” Portelli said.
“I was hoping he would go another direction.
“O’Crikey is the sort of horse that is pretty well up to beating the rest of the field but Tiger Tees is going to be very hard to beat.”
O’Crikey’s close second to Youthful Jack at Wyong over 1350m last start took his record to eight wins and 16 placings from 64 starts and $489,565 in career earnings.
Portelli believes rain between now and Saturday could be the free-running O’Crikey’s best chance of upsetting Tiger Tees, who was the $1.70 TAB Sportsbet favourite on Thursday.
Tiger Tees, who has drawn barrier four in the nine-horse field, scored his sixth win at just his eighth start on Christmas Eve at Canterbury.
Portelli has booked comeback jockey Blake Shinn for O’Crikey as well as stablemate Miss Spoken in the Vili’s Bakery Handicap (1400m).
Shinn booted home a double at Canterbury on Wednesday in his first Sydney appearance since returning from 14 months on the sidelines due to a broken leg and 12-month disqualification for gambling on races.
The 24-year-old Shinn almost landed a treble but was denied in a photo-finish aboard the Portelli-trained Satisfies.
Portelli is delighted to have the former Sydney premiership winner aboard and labelled Miss Spoken the best of the stable’s chances due to Tiger Tees’ presence against O’Crikey.
“She (Miss Spoken) is a very good filly but has just had no luck this campaign,” Portelli said.
“She ran third to John O’Shea’s nice filly (Sea Siren) two starts back at Canterbury and was three deep on a hot pace and still battled away in the straight.
“Then last start at Kembla she just fumbled the start and was last out. They ran their last 600 (metres) in 33 (seconds) and she was spotting them about eight lengths.
“I really liked the way she hit the line (for sixth, beaten 1-1/2 lengths).”
Miss Spoken has barrier two and Portelli will be guided by her performance before he entertains thoughts of any autumn ambitions.
“From a good gate Blake should be able to get a good position and I’m sure she’ll be in the finish,” he said.
Butt I’m Ready rounds out Portelli’s representation on Saturday’s card in the Vinery Stud Handicap (1000m).
AAP TURF
