Gary Portelli has not been afraid to cross borders multiple times this preparation with Kimochi and that confidence has been rewarded with a win at the highest level with a galloper who is now an extra valuable mare for Yulong.
Kimochi’s victory in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) bookended her preparation with victories after winning first-up at Randwick in the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) in late August, then a run in Melbourne, then back to Sydney before two more runs in Melbourne.
“There was a bit of pressure on us, Yulong have been on fire with their famous colours in the last few weeks,” Portelli said.
“I was able to win first-up with her and she’d just hit a couple of little flat spots since. Back to the 1400m, no weight on her back, champion ride. It was a brilliant ride from barrier 13 to get one off.
“They paid $2.2 million for her at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale, and we’ve been able to win a Group race. She’s worth probably three times that now.”
Craig Williams rode the daughter of Japanese sire Brave Smash for the first time since they second in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) on this day last year, the top jockey steered her to win from the awkward draw.
“From the first half of the race, I just worried about riding her, not worried about positioning, and I thought if I get that first part right with her, I’ll have a really good horse at the end,” Williams said.
“At the top of the straight, she was just marking time and then all of a sudden she just really showed her tenacity and to run down a horse like Another Wil was great.”
Kimochi ($26) scored over Another Wil ($2.70) by a long-neck margin with a steadily improving Steparty ($31) 1½-lengths away in third.
“Can’t ask for much more, just the drying track probably pulled him up a little bit the last hundred (metres) but he’ll win one soon,” Jamie Kah said of Another Wil’s effort.
Another Wil’s stablemate Jimmysstar ($3.20) finished six-lengths from the winner in tenth with excuses in the run.
“Disastrous,” Damian Lane said.
“(He was) held up for clear running on straightening and went to the line under canter.”
Kimochi provided Portelli with his ninth career win at Group 1 level.
