Kintyre connections hoping to continue winning Habit

Another strong performance from Kintyre will earn him a Group 1 shot – but at which race?

KINTYRE.
KINTYRE. Picture: Michael McInally/Racing Queensland

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.


Racing and Sports



Doomben

Saturday, 18th May 2024

9
16:38
(local)

SEVEN ROUGH HABIT PLATE (G3)

Age: 3yo Type: OPEN
AUD $250,000
2000m TURF SOFT
9
16:38
(local)
AUD $250,000
2000m SOFT

SEVEN ROUGH HABIT PLATE (G3)

Age: 3yo Type: OPEN
FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 3. TANNHAUSER (AUS) 3yo G
DUNDEEL (NZ) - LUQYAA (AUS)
JAMES MCDONALD
CHRIS WALLER
$3.75
57kg
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

Sales Information

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
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)

Sales Information

3rd 1. KINTYRE (AUS) 3yo G
HALLOWED CROWN (AUS) - MULL OVER (AUS)
CEJAY GRAHAM
GARY PORTELLI
$7.5
57kg
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
5th 7. PRESS LINK (NZ) 3yo G
PRESS STATEMENT (AUS) - VILLA DE MADRID (AUS)
JAMES ORMAN
ROBERT HEATHCOTE
$16
57kg

Sales Information

6th 11. WARIALDA WARRIOR (AUS) 3yo G
SAXON WARRIOR (JPN) - ROMANCE WRITER (NZ)
JAKE BAYLISS
JOHN RAMSEY
$81
57kg

Sales Information

7th 8. PORT LOCKROY (AUS) 3yo C
BETTER THAN READY (AUS) - FREEZETHEMILLIONS (AUS)
ADAM HYERONIMUS
ANNABEL NEASHAM
$7
57kg

Sales Information

8th 4. GOLD BULLION (NZ) 3yo G
SAVABEEL (AUS) - GOLD RUSH (NZ)
TIM CLARK
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$14
57kg

Sales Information

9th 14. PURVEYOR (AUS) 3yo G
MERCHANT NAVY (AUS) - MYSTIQUE (NZ)
MICHAEL CAHILL
S B LAMING
$151
57kg

Sales Information

10th 9. KIRIKAN (NZ) 3yo G
TIVACI (AUS) - JAMMU (NZ)
NASH RAWILLER
CHRIS WALLER
$26
57kg

Sales Information

11th 18. MANNERHEIM (AUS) 3yo G
DUNDEEL (NZ) - MISS HELSINKI (AUS)
TYLER SCHILLER
CHRIS WALLER
$61
57kg

Sales Information

12th 17. ICHIBAN (AUS) 3yo G
PIERRO (AUS) - CHARMONT (AUS)
MARK DU PLESSIS
CHRIS WALLER
$81
57kg

Sales Information

13th 21. KADAVAR (NZ) 3yo G
TARZINO (NZ) - ARAPAHO MISS (AUS)
CRAIG WILLIAMS
CHRIS WALLER
$61
57kg

Sales Information

14th 6. MORE TROUBLE (NZ) 3yo G
CHARM SPIRIT (IRE) - MAWHOOBA (AUS)
ROBBIE DOLAN
JACK BRUCE
$51
57kg

Sales Information

15th 13. LONG GENES (AUS) 3yo G
U S NAVY FLAG (USA) - FANATIC (NZ)
JIM BYRNE
EDWARD CUMMINGS
$151
57kg

Sales Information

16th 12. CAPTAIN FENKEL (AUS) 3yo G
KERMADEC (NZ) - SHE IS FIERCE (NZ)
ANDREW MALLYON
MARCUS WILSON
$91
57kg

Sales Information