The performance of in-form three-year-old Kintyre at Doomben will be pivotal in determining his next start with trainer Gary Portelli refusing to rule out a Queensland Derby bid.
The half-brother to 2022 Golden Slipper winner Fireburn will be shooting for his third successive victory in Saturday's Rough Habit Plate (2000m), having captured Group victories at his past two starts.
But beyond this weekend, Portelli is considering the merits of backing up Kintyre against the older horses in the Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday week, testing his stamina in the Queensland Derby (2400m) seven days later, or sending him to the paddock with a long-term view towards the Golden Eagle (1500m) in the spring.
"We have to make a serious decision after the races on Saturday, do we push on or do we spell?" Portelli said.
"We've got the Doomben Cup or Derby depending on how he goes on the weekend.
"With three-year-olds, class goes a long way, and he might be able to get the 2400. I haven't completely given up on it yet.
"It would be a lot weaker race class-wise than the Doomben Cup, but it's no good being a weak race if you can't run the trip out."
Kintyre is drawn to get every opportunity to showcase his wares from barrier one at Doomben where he will clash with the horse he edged out in the Frank Packer Plate, Gold Bullion, and ATC Australian Oaks winner Autumn Angel, who is a clear-cut Rough Habit Plate favourite.
She will be having her first start in just over a month and has an awkward gate in 14, while Portelli says Kintyre has continued to thrive since his last-start Queensland Guineas triumph.
"Every time he goes to the races he comes out the next day and bucks his brand off," Portelli said.
"He's a machine. He is a very tough horse and there are plenty of years of racing left in him."
Apprentice Cejay Graham will continue her association with Kintyre in the Rough Habit Plate after celebrating the biggest win of her fledgling career aboard the gelding in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas.
FP | Silk | Horse, Age & Sex Sire & Dam |
Jockey Trainer |
SP
WT |
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1st |
3. TANNHAUSER (AUS) 3yo G DUNDEEL (NZ) - LUQYAA (AUS) |
JAMES MCDONALD CHRIS WALLER |
$3.75
57kg |
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Newgate Bloodstock, China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd, Trilogy, Newgate S F, Horse Ventures, Go Bloodstock Australia, Starlight Racing, Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Carpe Diem, Aston Bloodstock, Nick Vass Bloodstock, G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd & Aristia Park Bloodstock Pty Ltd | |||||||||||
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2nd |
15. AUTUMN ANGEL (AUS) 3yo F THE AUTUMN SUN (AUS) - ANGEL OF MERCY (AUS) |
JAMIE KAH PETER G MOODY & KATHERINE COLEMAN |
$2.5
55kg |
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Wylie Dalziel Roy Higgins Racing (Mgr: W J Dalziel), J Robinson, G H E Goyne, P J Blunden, P Cunningham, M L Abell, Mrs L Davis, B M Jackson, M Patullo & Snow Road Thoroughbreds (Mgr: G N Mcnulty) | |||||||||||
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3rd |
1. KINTYRE (AUS) 3yo G HALLOWED CROWN (AUS) - MULL OVER (AUS) |
CEJAY GRAHAM GARY PORTELLI |
$7.5
57kg |
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Laurel Oak, Bundalong Racing (Mgr: J Gunston), R I Cullen, E L H Cullen, J T O'Brien, J Davis, C Morony, M W Powell, V I Latimore, A N Fitzgerald, K A Tibbey, Whinging Poms (Mgr: J T Fathers), J V Murphy, B Pendlebury, D Hanckel & T Hutchinson | |||||||||||
4th |
10. FELIX THE SCAT (AUS) 3yo G MENDELSSOHN (USA) - MISS POCKET ROCKET (AUS) |
KYLE WILSON-TAYLOR TONY GOLLAN |
$81
57kg |
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5th |
7. PRESS LINK (NZ) 3yo G PRESS STATEMENT (AUS) - VILLA DE MADRID (AUS) |
JAMES ORMAN ROBERT HEATHCOTE |
$16
57kg |
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6th |
11. WARIALDA WARRIOR (AUS) 3yo G SAXON WARRIOR (JPN) - ROMANCE WRITER (NZ) |
JAKE BAYLISS JOHN RAMSEY |
$81
57kg |
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7th |
8. PORT LOCKROY (AUS) 3yo C BETTER THAN READY (AUS) - FREEZETHEMILLIONS (AUS) |
ADAM HYERONIMUS ANNABEL NEASHAM |
$7
57kg |
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8th |
4. GOLD BULLION (NZ) 3yo G SAVABEEL (AUS) - GOLD RUSH (NZ) |
TIM CLARK G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT |
$14
57kg |
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9th |
14. PURVEYOR (AUS) 3yo G MERCHANT NAVY (AUS) - MYSTIQUE (NZ) |
MICHAEL CAHILL S B LAMING |
$151
57kg |
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10th |
9. KIRIKAN (NZ) 3yo G TIVACI (AUS) - JAMMU (NZ) |
NASH RAWILLER CHRIS WALLER |
$26
57kg |
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11th |
18. MANNERHEIM (AUS) 3yo G DUNDEEL (NZ) - MISS HELSINKI (AUS) |
TYLER SCHILLER CHRIS WALLER |
$61
57kg |
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12th |
17. ICHIBAN (AUS) 3yo G PIERRO (AUS) - CHARMONT (AUS) |
MARK DU PLESSIS CHRIS WALLER |
$81
57kg |
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|
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13th |
21. KADAVAR (NZ) 3yo G TARZINO (NZ) - ARAPAHO MISS (AUS) |
CRAIG WILLIAMS CHRIS WALLER |
$61
57kg |
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|
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14th |
6. MORE TROUBLE (NZ) 3yo G CHARM SPIRIT (IRE) - MAWHOOBA (AUS) |
ROBBIE DOLAN JACK BRUCE |
$51
57kg |
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15th |
13. LONG GENES (AUS) 3yo G U S NAVY FLAG (USA) - FANATIC (NZ) |
JIM BYRNE EDWARD CUMMINGS |
$151
57kg |
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|
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16th |
12. CAPTAIN FENKEL (AUS) 3yo G KERMADEC (NZ) - SHE IS FIERCE (NZ) |
ANDREW MALLYON MARCUS WILSON |
$91
57kg |
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