Since its inception as a regional feature on the New South Wales spring calendar, The Gong has been won by five different jockeys and five different stables and Gary Portelli is hoping he and jockey Rachel King can make that six.
Fresh from claiming the Group 1 Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield yesterday with tough mare Kimochi, Portelli is ready for follow-up in another million-dollar feature with a back in-shape Encap in the Group 3 The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Encap finished outside of the placings in eleventh in the Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on November 2, and Portelli says that the excuses at the time have been cleared up since.
“He had the issue with his foot prior to the day and we had a bit of a stewards situation but they passed him fit on the day,” Portelli said.
“That was good, but watching the race later I think he was holding back on the hard ground.
“He had a bit of bruise on his heel and I think we’ll see a lot of improvement this week.”
Though The Gong is not quite up there with the quality the four-year-old faced at Rosehill, Portelli is realistic that it will still be a hard race and has called on Rachel King to replace Jason Collett on the gelding with the latter taking up other options.
Encap has firmed from $15 into $11 for The Gong across pre-nominations in betting sites markets with the Ciaron Maher-trained Gringotts the $2.80 favourite.
“His foot is fine now,” Portelli added of Encap who he purchased for $200,000 at the Inglis Easter Sale in 2022 with prizemoney exceeding $800,000.
“He was just holding back that bit when we were on the way when we raced him, but he is good now.
“Next start, he’s got that run under his belt, plenty of work since then and he’ll be ready to go.”
