Michael Kent Jnr admits he isn’t quite sure what to expect from former Irish mare Sakti when she makes her local debut in the Emancipation Stakes at Rosehill, but he is confident she can forge a good career in Australia.
The lightly raced four-year-old, a Listed winner and multiple stakes placegetter overseas, is among owner Yulong’s latest batch of imports to test Sydney’s carnival waters.
While the stable is still learning about her, Kent Jnr says Sakti has been doing everything right in the lead up and will appreciate the expected rain-affected conditions.
“We’re very happy with her at home but we’ve only just acquired her so we’re going to find out a lot more on Saturday,” Kent Jnr said.
“At her best, she would be well in this race.
“She does go through soft ground.
“She’s had nine starts, two wins, five seconds. Four goes on the soft for four seconds so she gets through is beautifully.”
While the forecast for rain on Saturday holds no fears for Sakti, the same doesn’t apply to the Gary Portelli-trained Encap.
He floundered at his only start on a heavy track in last year’s All Aged Stakes and Portelli is desperately hoping the predicted 15-60mm of rain arrives at the bottom end of that range.
Nominated for the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on Golden Slipper day, Portelli opted to save Encap for this weekend’s Doncaster Prelude (1500m) but is wondering if he has pulled the wrong rein.
“We kept him for this week but I wish I’d run him last week now because it looks like we’re going to get a wet track and that’s a real concern,” Portelli said.
“If it got to heavy, we would probably pull him out.”
Portelli is hoping to get Encap into the Doncaster Mile (1600m) on Saturday week and if the gelding can get the better end of conditions this weekend, Portelli expects him to make his presence felt.
“Nash Rawiller galloped him on Tuesday morning and couldn’t believe his recovery,” he said.
“He has drawn a good gate. Everything is there to suggest he should run well.”
The winner of Saturday’s race is exempt from a ballot and penalty for the Doncaster Mile.
