Regardless of whether drawing in or out proves advantageous in the heavy conditions at Rosehill, Gary Portelli will have his bases covered with Mother Goose and Thames.
The two Godolphin mares have drawn barriers one and 15 respectively for their clash in Saturday’s Vale Sandro D’Amore Handicap (1200m), and Portelli says it might be what splits them.
“I feel bad having two in it, but as it has turned out, the barriers might be the difference between them,” Portelli said.
“We’ve bookended the good and bad parts of the track anyway. Both horses are in good order and both horses don’t mind it wet.”
While Mother Goose tackles the race first-up, Thames has put the writing on the wall with a superb Kensington track victory on May 13 when she defied the pattern of the day to launch from the back of the field and score.
Listed placed for James Cummings at last year’s Scone carnival, the four-year-old had soundness issues in her early runs for Portelli but showed what she was capable off once they were managed.
“She’s had a few feet problems, and the farrier has been working tirelessly to get her right. She came good and we saw a big result,” Portelli said.
“And the blinkers (went on) as well. I’m not sure if it was getting her feet right, or the blinkers, or a combination of the two.
“I sent a message to Godolphin just before that last race and said, ‘if you haven’t been watching, every leader has won so far and we’re going to be getting back, so we’ll have our work cut out to win. Let’s just hope she hits the line strongly.’ She defied the bias.
“She hasn’t gone backwards so I’m looking forward to seeing how she goes.”
With a black-type placing already on Thames’ resume, Portelli says the goal is to try and land a stakes win with the daughter of Lonhor before she is retired to stud.
Mother Goose has likewise shown ability to win three of her 11 starts, including a Midway Handicap on a heavy track at Rosehill in January.
She has yet to miss a top three finish fresh, and Portelli has her primed to run well.
“She’s in great order. She’s had two nice trials,” he said.
“She will improve on whatever she does because she’s still not race fit, but she will give a sight.”
