In-form Portelli stable takes two contenders to Gosford

Warwick Farm horseman Gary Portelli is hoping to continue his run of winning form when producing two leading chances at Thursday’s Gosford meeting.

Portelli has enjoyed recent success with the likes of Kintyre, Jaegers and Kilbrannan, and will rely on Babyfaced Assassin in the Risk And Safety Solutions Provincial/Midway Maiden Handicap (1600m) and Stormfield in the Natalie Sax @ Belle Of The Turf 28 December 2025 Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1000m) at Gosford.

Gary Portelli.Credit: Wolter Peeters

Ashley Morgan takes the ride on Babyfaced Assassin and Portelli believes the well-bred son of I Am Invincible and Silently is in a race to suit.

“He ran a couple of good placings when third at Goulburn in October and then a close second at Hawkesbury early last month,” said Portelli.

“Then we took him to Canterbury and everything that could go wrong did go wrong. He bungled the start and was a long way behind early.

“He ended up being beaten a fair way but it’s a complete forget run after what happened when the gates open. Take that run out of his form and the race at Gosford on Thursday looks like it should suit him.”

Stormfield is resuming from a spell in its event and has the services of jockey Alysha Collett, who partnered Jaegers to success in its recent Canterbury victory for Portelli.

“Stormfield is a horse that has ability,” Portelli said.

“He won his maiden at Orange well enough around this time last year and then wasn’t beaten far at all in two runs after that when just behind the placings in each of them in provincial company.

“I’ve given him two trials to get ready for his return to racing and he’s won both of them at Warwick Farm with Alysha [Collett] in the saddle in the latest one of them.

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“With any luck I think he can be right in the finish.”

Jockey Tim Clark will be out to make the most of his only ride of the day at Gosford when he partners the Bjorn Baker las start winner Diacon when it contests the Novacoast Services Class 1 Handicap (1200m).

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