Winona Costin defied riding instructions and duly delivered a career-best win for Portland in the Listed $200,000 Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
“I did everything you told me not to do,” Costin told Portland’s connections after the race.
“I was supposed to be one-off and let Portland build to the outside in the straight.
“But from the 600m onwards all the runs kept opening up for me so I let him build into the race.
“He enjoyed the track conditions today and all he wanted to do was win. He kept poking his nose out in the straight, it was a tough effort.”
The Matthew Smith-trained Portland ($14) burst through the pack to score by a long head from favourite Zambardo ($3.20) with Zaphod ($21) a half neck away third.
Smith has an outstanding record with imported horses, most notably multiple Group 1 winner Fierce Impact, and he has unearthed another promising former northern hemisphere galloper in Portland.
Previously trained in Ireland by the maestro Aidan O’Brien, Portland won two of his 12 starts overseas including the Listed King George VC Stakes at Leopardstown before being purchased by Smith and syndicated to a group of owners including Frank and Christine Cook who raced Fierce Impact.
Portland had more than a year out of racing as he acclimatised to Australian conditions but he has created a good impression at his debut preparation for Smith, breaking through for his first win at his sixth start down under.
“Portland’s done a really good job this preparation,” Smith told Racing And Sports from Eagle Farm on Saturday.
“He was placed in a Group 2 (third in the Neville Sellwood Stakes behind Wootton Verni) and now he has won a Listed race.
“I think the tracks haven’t helped him at times because they have been very firm and he’s still getting used to those types of tracks.
”But he enjoyed the heavy (9) conditions today. I’ll see how he pulls up but I would say he will probably go for a spell now.”
Smith said Portland’s is becoming more used to Australian track and training conditions and believes the five-year-old gelding by England’s super sire Dubawi will be better again next season.
“I’m convinced Portland can continue to improve in the spring and he will get further,” Smith said.
“I think he could even develop into a chance in a race like the (Group 1) The Metropolitan (2400m).”
