STRATURBO TOO STRONG IN THE CHIEF DE BEERS

By Graham Potter | Monday, May 23, 2016

IPG CONNECT CHIEF DE BEERS HANDICAP – LISTED – 1050m.

WINNER: STRATURBO (6 b g Stratum – Weekend Gossip).
Track: Good (4) Time: 0:59.54 Last 600m: 0:33.47.

In his last five starts going into this race Straturbo had travelled to and raced in four different states. Although without a win in any of those outings, he had never finished more than three lengths behind the winner.

In his last start, over the same track and distance, Starturbo had announced his well-being with a gallant first-up effort.

In that race he tracked the leader before taking over at the head of affairs at the top of the straight. He hardly missed a beat in the run home, but was run down by a better horse on the day in the form of Into The Red.

It would be a telling warm-up for this contest.

The $31 outsider Plateau Gold was chased into the lead after jumping from the extreme outside draw. As he took up the running the Coffs Harbour visitor had Vienna Queen ($21) in his slipstream with Straturbo ($5.50) taking up a gun run in third spot on the rail.

These leaders held their positions until Starturbo pressed past Vienna Queen at the 300m mark shortly after straightening.

The Gary Portelli runner was now within a length and a half of the still free running Plateau Gold while, behind him, Wicked Intent ($4) had switched out across heels to move into a threatening position. Selita (the $3.75 favourite), now all of five wide, also appeared to be ranging into contention.

Straturbo slowly built momentum and, when the pressure told on Plateau Gold coming through the 150m, Straturbo surged into the lead and had his race comfortably won inside the final 100m.

Wicked Intent ran on best of the rest to relegate Plateau Gold into third placing while Selita, who only whacked away to the line, finished fourth. (*Selita bled from both nostrils during the event. Connections were advised that the mare would be barred from racing for a period of 3 months).

WINNER FEEDBACK:

TRAINER GARY PORTELLI (SPEAKING FROM ROSEHILL):

“He is a absolute gem of the horse in the stable.

“It was good to see him finally win a decent race. It was good for the owners and for Elite Thoroughbreds, who bought him for about $45 000. I think he just broken through the $400 000 stakes bracket now.”

SEAN ALDER (GARY PORTELLI STABLE ON TRACK REPRESENTATIVE):

“It has been a long time between wins but he tries hard every time he runs. Today was his day.

“He is a 1000m, 1100m horse. That’s his lot.

“He won’t be staying up here wherever he races next. Gary (Portelli) will take him home. He always takes him home.

“This time he had three weeks between runs (since finishing second to Into The Red in the Bribie Handicap), so he has been home and back up again. Gary always does that.

"He does all the work with the horse.”

JOCKEY ROBBIE FRADD:

“Jeez, he was up for the fight today.

“His last run was a good run. I thought I might have gone a touch too early on him that day but Gary (Portelli) said, no, he didn’t think so.

“Gary did say to me to watch him second-up, he’s not always tidy out of the gates. We knew there was going to be a lot of speed on though so Gary also told me to just to find a nice spot.

I got him going and I got into a lovely spot on him. The tempo was good, I peeled him out and he just went whoosh!

“I think this track suits him. It was quick. That’s understandable. We’ve had no rain. I think the ‘good 3’ helps him.

“The ground staff have done a fantastic job to keep this track going.” (The second Metropolitan track in Brisbane, Eagle Farm, has been closed for two years).

<STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:

OFFICE BEARER – Trainer J. Coyle was fined the sum of $100 for presenting the horse without blinkers. Blinkers were subsequently added to the horse behind the barriers.

DIVINE SERVICE – Reared up in the barriers and became cast. The gelding was subsequently removed from the gates and declared a late scratching on veterinary advice. Trainer D. Hansen was advised that he must provide a barrier certificate prior to the mare racing again.

SELITA – Soon after the start was hampered when tightened for room between DON’T TEASE ME and VIENNA QUEEN, which shifted in slightly. Bled from both nostrils during the event. Connections were advised that the mare would be barred from racing for a period of 3 months.

DON’T TEASE ME – Jockey J. Lloyd reported at scale his mount slipped on jumping away.

VIENNA QUEEN – Trainer T. Gollan reported the mare had been galloped on on the off hind leg and had lost its off hind plate.

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