Once More For The Cerise Army

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday March 29, 2008

Max Presnell

OMENS point to Portillo in the Sweet Embrace Stakes at Royal Randwick today in what could be the last throw of the dice for Bob Ingham's Woodlands Stud cerise to figure in the Golden Slipper at Rosehill on April 19.

Sweet Embrace was the first Golden Slipper winner for Jack and Bob Ingham in 1967, while Forensics took the race for Woodlands last year. Their first major winner, Port Joy, was in the 1965 Gimcrack, and Portillo won that sprint last start.

Portillo is 23rd in the Slipper order of entry while another Woodlands' horse still in the running, Segolene, is 47th. Portillo is by Red Ransom out of Snowdrift and has the bloodlines to be an early comer, being a half-sister to Snowland, winner of six races as a two-year-old. Most of the breed are speedsters but Portillo was strong at the end of 1100m at Randwick on March 1, indicating the 1200m wouldn't be a problem.

"She's gone brilliantly and she'll run a very good race," trainer Peter Snowden told AAP.

The Sweet Embrace looks one of the more competitive two-year-olds' races this season with Portillo a $5 favourite on TAB Sportsbet yesterday with Glowlamp at $5.50.

Glowlamp was beaten around three-quarters of a length by Portillo in the Gimcrack, and was then confronted by a whirlwind, Amelia's Dream, going down by more than seven lengths in the Silver Slipper last start. Amelia's Dream, though, appeared to be a horse of a superior breed to other youngsters so far this season.

From the eight gate Glowlamp will go quickly as will the talented Samantha Miss (nine), and Sarthemare (12), which should suit Portillo (six). Sheik Mohammed's filly Estee, trained by Lee Freedman, could, with blinkers for the first time, prove troublesome for Portillo. Darley Stud, owned by the Sheik, purchased Woodlands earlier this week for $460 million.

David Payne has Stripper and Rock Me Baby in blinkers for the first time, and David Hayes, who looks set for a mass Golden Slipper representation, will start Arms Wide Open. She looked good, particularly over the latter stages, winning at Ballarat last start. Usually Ballarat to Randwick so close together is a step too far.VERDICT: Portillo to keep the cerise alive.

GOOD WEEKEND: Woodlands has a major contender, Marching, in the Randwick Guineas - for a trifecta spot anyway.

Outstanding Melbourne three-year-old Weekend Hussler looks too well placed at level weights. Racing NSW handicappers rated him on 116 with the next best being the VRC Oaks winner, Arapaho Miss, on 102 followed by Marching 101. The negatives with Weekend Hussler are three weeks between races and graduating from 1200m to 1600m. Also the gelding had a bumpy float ride to Sydney, in which he sustained superficial injuries, but was only $1.75 with TAB Sportsbet yesterday.

On the positive side, Racing NSW vet Craig Suann described him as being in "excellent condition" when he galloped at Randwick yesterday. Largo Lad, also from Victoria, is worthy of consideration. Many reckon Largo Lad should have won the Cadbury Guineas over today's journey, 1600m, last start in which Marching was second to Light Fantastic. The effort of Largo Lad, fifth beaten a length, was superior to Marching's. From the 14 gate Largo Lad, with Darren Gauci up, will get back in the field.

Weekend Hussler (five) should have a good run. Damien Oliver will be out to possie Marching midfield from 10 but it's difficult to be satisfied that he'll have as sweet a run as the favourite. Arapaho Miss, too, will be strong at the finish.VERDICT: Try the quinella Weekend Hussler-Largo Lad. My first four are Weekend Hussler, Largo Lad, Marching and Arapaho Miss.

CANNY BET: Testimonial is hardly in the cerise A-team but he looks a trifecta hope in the Autumn Racing Carnival Handicap. The five-year-old notched his early wins in Queensland when Woodlands had a Brisbane branch. Still, the gelding scored easily against moderates at Kembla Grange last start and went down by only a half-length when fifth in a ratings 86 event after striking trouble under 59kg at Canterbury on February 23.

With little pace in the race Corey Brown should be able to give him an easy time up front against higher-rated chances He's Canny, Fox Lake and God's Hand. He's Canny did well when second after being wide to Double Dare at Rosehill on March 15. Double Dare would make short work of this field, while Fox Lake was a 1.7-length fifth in the same event but struck traffic.VERDICT: Go for the trifecta - He's Canny, Fox Lake and Testimonial.

GREAT DEAL: Carrying the cerise, Imvula put up a strong performance when a close third, beaten under a half-length after being "tightened", to Dealer Principal over the Rosehill 1500m on March 15. It promised to be a strong race but Imvula again clashes with Dealer Principal in the Ascend Sales & Consultancy Handicap. Dealer Principal raced greenly so there was equal merit in the effort. However, from the four barrier Dealer Principal could get the better passage today as Imvula launches from 10. Any Humour looked smart scoring over the Rosehill 1400m on March 15. Also Jabal Tarik, a Lee Freedman three-year-old, is highly regarded.

VERDICT: Dealer Principal.