Gary Portelli has opted for the Dark Jewel Classic over the Scone Cup as the preferred stakes mission for Rose Of Peace this weekend, believing the mare will be better suited by the pace in Saturday’s 1400m feature.
Rose Of Peace was among 24 entries for the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) on Friday and one of 20 fillies and mares nominated for the Listed Dark Jewel.
The club received 281 nominations for Friday’s meeting and 208 for the following day as it prepares to build on the success of last year’s two-day extravaganza in the NSW Hunter Valley which offers $2 million prizemoney.
Portelli is hoping Rose Of Peace can collect the lion’s share of the $200,000 available in the Dark Jewel with nominations headed by More Strawberries, a last-start winner of the Darley Crown.
Rose Of Peace was unplaced in that Listed race at Hawkesbury last Saturday week but her trainer is hoping for a repeat of her 100-1 win in the Wenona Girl in March.
“I think 1400 metres on the big track at Scone will suit her better than Hawkesbury,” Portelli said.
“The Dark Jewel will be a big field with genuine speed on which she needs to finish her races off.
“She seems to have lost a lot of her gate speed and might get left behind in a slower run race which I think the Cup will be.”
The Cup features Star Of Octagonal, winner of the Rowley Mile at the Hawkesbury meeting, setting up a return to the scene of his biggest pay day.
Two years ago Star Of Octagonal collected $500,000 first prize for the Scone Guineas but failed to live up to that in 2011.
This year has been different with trainer Todd Howlett relocating the key to the gelding who has won twice and been placed on four occasions in his current campaign.
