Consistent gelding Kintyre is likely to chase more feature race success in Queensland after winning the Frank Packer Plate on protest over first-past-the-post Gold Bullion.
A thrilling battle on the track spilled over into the stewards’ room as Jamie Kah on Kintyre ($3.50) fired in a protest against Tim Clark aboard Gold Bullion ($13), alleging interference over the final stages.
The official margin was a nose and Kah was adamant Gold Bullion cost her horse a length as he drifted in over the final 50 metres and forced Kintyre onto the fence.
“Tim’s horse has stepped back in and I’ve had to put the whip away,” Kah said.
“I was leaning on the rail quite hard that last bit.
“The margin is very small, but I felt like my horse was going to go on and win easily.
“The interference has definitely cost me a good length, I think.”
Clark mounted a spirited defence, arguing that Kintyre began drifting towards the rail before Gold Bullion shifted ground.
He also felt the second-past-the-post had his chance to reel in Gold Bullion earlier in the straight but couldn’t get past him.
“When Jamie shifts back to the inside the run is tight,” Clark said.
“That horse had a good 250 metres to get past my horse and was unable to do so.
“When my horse gets in on Jamie, it was right on the winning post if not past the winning post.”
Stewards took a short time to deliberate before upholding Kah’s objection and promoting Kintyre to first, much to the relief of his trainer Gary Portelli, who felt the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) win was just reward for the three-year-old’s consistency.
“He hasn’t run a bad race yet,” Portelli said.
“Barrier one, finally, and he got every chance, good ride. It would have been tragic to see him get beaten.”
Portelli said he would consult the owners of Kintyre, a half-brother to 2022 Golden Slipper winner Fireburn, before locking in a plan but his intention was to take the horse to Queensland where a start in the Derby would be considered.
“His quality might take him out to a Derby trip but certainly there will be something up there for him,” he said.
Co-trainer Adrian Bott is also keen to take Gold Bullion north after his tough effort with the Queensland Derby also among the options for him.
“I think he can get further because that would have been a nice test today in those conditions,” Bott said.
“He certainly wasn’t giving in, so no reason that he can’t.”
Filly Our Gold Hope ($6.50) also ran a bold race, finishing another long neck away in third, with $2.60 betting app favourite Tannhauser fourth
