The Civic Stakes did not work out as trainer Gary Portelli would have liked but Nicci’s Gold and Testashadow get another chance in the Winter Stakes at Rosehill.
After having no luck in running, Nicci’s Gold finished fourth in the Listed Civic Stakes (1350m) last Saturday week while Testashadow was ninth.
Nicci’s Gold, who won over 1500m at her previous start, was hampered early before being held up in the straight.
“Any luck and she wins,” Portelli said.
“She spent most of her time trying to get clear so the Civic was inconclusive.
“It’s important for her to get black-type so hopefully she can do it this time.”
As of Monday, Portellil was looking for a jockey for Nicci’s Gold with Jason Collett committed to Cradle Mountain trained by his partner Clare Cunningham.
Cradle Mountain was originally headed to the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton on Wednesday but a heavy track and barrier 18 prompted the stable to enter him for Rosehill with fine weather in Sydney expected to help it improve from heavy by Saturday.
Apprentice Sam Clenton will again be aboard Testashadow.
“He’s going really well and wasn’t that far away last time so I think he will be better second-up,” Portelli said.
Group performer Stampede from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable is the Winter Stakes topweight with Eckstein on 57.5kg and New Tipperary on 56.5kg after his solid third in the Civic won by Gaulois from Firsthand with that pair on 55kg and 55.5kg respectively.
Single Bullet has been entered for the 1200m-benchmark 88 race but Portelli may save him for another day.
“We’ll keep an eye on the track with him,” he said.
“We looked at the Ramornie but it was going to be too heavy.”
The trainer will monitor Bringagem’s trackwork on Tuesday before committing him to a start in the 2000m-benchmark race.
Portelli’s other runners are likely to be Moccasin Miss and Sebring Express in the 1100m-race for fillies and mares and two-year-old Not Feint Hearted in the 1100m-event for juveniles.
Not Feint Hearted won on debut in March before being unplaced in the Kindergarten Stakes.
