A two-state, black-type double will be in the offing for Gary PortelliĀ following his decision to split three-year-olds EncapĀ and Flying Trapeze between Sydney and Melbourne.
Both were acceptors for Saturday’s Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday, however Flying Trapeze has already been scratched and will instead head south to Caulfield for the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m).
Portelli said a desire to give both horses a shot at winning was a driver in his decision, while he also believed Flying Trapeze would be better suited over the slightly longer journey at Caulfield.
“I think it’s definitely his distance and 1200 might have been a bit sharp for him,” Portelli said.
“He’s got a course record on the ‘Kenso’ (Randwick’s Kensington) track, he ran third in the Magic Millions (Guineas) over 1400, so I think it’s his pet distance.
“I also think I’ve got a great chance of winning with Encap, and I’d rather have a chance in two races than one.”
Encap will line up in what is shaping as one of the more open renewals of the Eskimo Prince Stakes, the gelding a $6 chance in a compressed market which has CaballusĀ a $4.60 favourite, while Celestial Legend and MakarenaĀ are the longest priced of the seven runners at $7 apiece.
Encap was one of the surprise packets of the spring, emerging from a brace of minor placings in midweek grade to finish third to Saturday’s rival Tom KittenĀ at his black-type debut in the Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) before taking out the Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m).
He showed those efforts were no fluke with a narrow second to MilitarizeĀ in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) where he was only overhauled in the final bounds.
The gelding has had two trials in preparation for his return and Portelli is expecting to see a more complete racehorse this autumn.
“I think you’ll see a horse that has learned a lot from that preparation because he had no idea,” Portelli said.
“He’s got a big motor and if he comes back in the form he went out in, he is going to be very competitive on Saturday.”
