Ex-Godolphin mare ready to make her mark for new stable

A lightly raced ex-Godolphin mare is set to return with a bang for her new home stable at Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting.

Thames, a four-year-old daughter of generational Group 1-winning star Lonhro, hasn’t raced since flashing home into a place in a Listed feature at the Scone carnival last May.

Trainer Gary Portelli.Credit: Getty

Spelled through last winter, Thames was transferred to the Gary Portelli yard after the announcement that Australia’s head Godolphin trainer James Cummings was headed to Hong Kong for the 2026-27 season.

It meant a string of well-performed metropolitan gallopers went to other established stables.

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Among them was, Thames who has only missed a place three times from 10 starts since debuting in the winter of 2024.

She was placed in four straight Victorian races up to BM 70 level early last year before the one-off assault on the Denise’s Joy Stakes at Scone over 1100m where she was beaten a half-length after powering home from near last.

After the stable change, Thames was given two trials last October before being turned out again when she showed she was ready to go, sweeping home from the back to win a Kembla trial four weeks ago.

She tackles a Benchmark 72 Hcp for the mares over 1100m, and opened on the second line of betting around $5.00 behind another four-year-old and $3.20 favourite Big Red Tequila who has won two from three this campaign.

The race before will also have punters and racegoers’ eyes lighting up when exciting filly Samarelle returns in a BM 72 over 1200m for the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton yard, with James McDonald booked to ride.

A talented three-year-old bred along staying lines, Samarelle hasn’t started since a close second at her third start in much tougher Group 3 company at Randwick last October.

Fitted with two trials, winning the latest impressively over 1050m, Samarelle opened around $3.20 favourite ahead of Signor Tortoni ($4.40) who is second-up via a dominant trial win, and Clear Proof ($6.50) coming off a last-start BM 64 win.

Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au

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