Good gate has Kimochi poised for Group 1 Kingsford Smith boilover
Trainer Gary Portelli has Kimochi primed to enhance her 'giant-killer' reputation in the Group 1 $1m Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Kimochi is an outstanding mare, having earned over $2m prizemoney with four wins and 10 minor placings during her 21-start career.
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But in each of her four wins, Kimochi has never started shorter than $6.50 and was at $26 when she won the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes last spring.
TAB Fixed Odd price assessors have Kimochi at generous odds again of $10 for the star-studded Eagle Farm sprint that includes Joliestar ($3 favourite), Giga Kick ($5), Benedetta ($7.50) and Private Eye ($8.50).
But Kimochi has shown repeatedly during her race career that she is very competitive at this level although more often than not her chances have been impacted by wide barriers.
So, Portelli was relieved when Kimochi finally drew a favourable barrier with gate three for the Kingsford Smith Cup.
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'Kimochi always seems to draw double-digit gates so it's nice to draw an inside barrier for a change,'' Portelli said.
'I'm really happy with her. I've basically set her for the Kingsford Smith Cup and then the Stradbroke Handicap virtually from the moment she came back into work.
'Weight-for-age races probably don't quite suit her and she is better at handicap level but from that barrier this does look a race where she can be very competitive.''
Portelli will be at Eagle Farm for Kimochi's Group 1 bid but the master trainer will be watching with interest when his two-year-olds Queen Of Clubs and Kilbrannan race at Rosehill Gardens and Kembla Grange respectively.
Queen Of Clubs, a daughter of leading Arrowfield Stud stallion Maurice, was unplaced in two runs last spring and resumes in the Rosehill opener, the Schweppes Handicap (1300m).
But Portelli has a very health regard for Queen Of Clubs' emerging ability.
'I like her as a classics type of filly later on,'' Portelli said.
'This is part of the process about getting her educated and although it's pretty strong race I want to see her running through the line with a view to getting her ready for the spring three-year-old fillies races.''
Kilbrannan is making his debut at the provincials over 1000m but is also a two-year-old Portelli believes has a bright future.
By top sire Pierata out of Mull Over, Kilbrannan is a half-brother to Portelli's 2022 Golden Slipper winner Fireburn.
'Kilbrannan goes pretty good,'' Portelli enthused.
'I like the way he has been trialling, even though he has wanted to get a bit keen in his trials.
'But I feel the Kembla race will be run at a good 'clip' so we should have no trouble getting him to settle.
'He will be ridden quietly and look for him to be finishing off well, he's a nice colt.''
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