Somepin Anypin is about to have the stakes raised in a spring campaign which could continue through to the start of summer.
Set to continue his preparation at Rosehill on Saturday, trainer Gary Portelli said there was a chance Somepin Anypin might be kept in work to contest the Group Two Villiers Stakes – the biggest summer feature in Sydney.
“At this stage the favoured target is the Hawkesbury Cup and after that we’ll reassess but there is talk of the Villiers,” Portelli said.
“There is a long break between Hawkesbury and the Villiers so we’ll just wait and see.”
The $150,000 Group Three Hawkesbury Gold Cup will be run on November 3 but the $175,000 Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Warwick Farm isn’t on until December 17.
Hawkesbury will be the first time Somepin Anypin races at 1600m but he will step up to 1400m in Saturday’s Centrebet’s Pick Your Own Field Handicap at Rosehill.
Portelli trained Something Anything to win the 2008 Villiers and Somepin Anypin is raced in similar interests.
The Warwick Farm trainer was keen to test Somepin Anypin over 1600m as an autumn three-year-old but his plans to run the galloper in the Randwick Guineas were shelved after a Hobartville Stakes failure.
Jim Cassidy, making the most of extra opportunities with a lot of Sydney’s top riders involved in the Melbourne spring carnival, continues his association with Somepin Anypin.
Cassidy has ridden Somepin Anypin five times for three wins, the most recent at Rosehill on October 8.
It’s a record Portelli believes can be enhanced this week on the score of fitness alone.
“He’ll be having his fourth run back and he’s showing no signs that he won’t be at his peak,” Portelli said.
“He worked brilliantly (on Tuesday), his recovery has been excellent and he’s got basically the same weight (53.5kg) on Saturday.”
Portelli is hoping to be part of WS Cox Plate day at Moonee Valley with Rosehill-placed two-year-old Rise To The Top.
He nominated Rise To The Top for the $250,000 Inglis Banner (1000m) as well as a Rosehill race.
“I’m putting blinkers on him and Hugh Bowman will be riding him at Moonee Valley,” Portelli said.
Rise To The Top worked the Melbourne way of going last week and convinced Portelli he is a natural in the opposite direction.
“I worked him on the B grass at Warwick Farm which is nice and tight and he got straight on the right leg,” Portelli said.
AAP TURF
