Mornington sprinter Portland Sky took centre stage when he relegated star colts Aysar and Tagaloa to the placing’s with his win in the Manfred Stakes.
Portland Sky’s jockey Luke Currie took the lead from the outset and controlled the tempo before he kicked away early in the straight to win the 1200 metres Group Three event for three-year-olds at Caulfield.
Aysar looked a winning chance half-way up the straight but Portland Sky held him comfortably to the line.
Portland Sky’s trainer Matt Laurie said the victory was a good way to put the recent unsuccessful trip to Queensland behind him where the son of Deep Field finished last in the Vo Rogue Plate at Eagle Farm on January 2.
Prior to that run Portland Sky had won the Group Three Red Anchor Stakes at The Valley where he also had led throughout.
“He trialled beautifully last week and we were very happy with him coming into today,” Laurie said.
“He’s got good tactical speed. He can relax and he’s got a good sprint.”
Laurie said Portland Sky, who has now won three of his six starts, had shown talent from the moment he entered the stable and would get his opportunity in better races.
Laurie said he would consider setting Portland Sky for the Adelaide carnival.
Portland Sky ($9) defeated Aysar ($2.50 fav) by 3/4 lengths with Tagaloa ($2.90) a long head away third.
Currie said Portland Sky was a nice horse and he had the race won a long way out.
“He only went steady through the first part of it and then he kept quickening the tempo from the 600 metres himself and he was always going to be hard to run down. He’s a really nice horse,” Currie said.
