Portnoy Charges into Cup Contention

A last roll of the dice proved a winning gamble for Cluden Park’s new premier trainer Georgie Holt when Portnoy won a golden ticket into the Townsville Cup on Saturday.

Just a class 2 horse going into the weekend, Portnoy faced a must win situation in the Ladbrokes Winter Cup and duly answered the call thanks to a smart Jackson Murphy ride.

The win was a dream end to the official racing season for Holt who claimed her first Cluden trainers’ premiership with 35 wins.

But the work is only partly done for the young trainer who along with husband Aidan has built the city’s leading stable in just six years.

Holt would dearly love to land her first Townsville major in the Cup on August 12 and will now have a great shot at the big race with three strong chances – Portnoy, Arctic Wolf and Siren Rock.

“This was the target race for Portnoy. We knew for him to get into the Cup he needed to win today and we’ve had this lined-up for him the whole time. It’s worked out really well,” Holt said.

“In the time we’ve been training we’ve had two Cup runners, Bochy and Live The Moment, without any luck, and we certainly didn’t think we’d be in this position,” Holt said.

“We don’t really have a Cleveland Bay Hcp horse so to have three in the Cup is fantastic. So now we’ve just got to try and win it.”

Portnoy, originally trained by Richard and Will Freedman in Sydney, was purchased and syndicated by former trainer Luke Berger and sent to the Holts specifically for the northern cups.

Coming off a fourth in the NQ Cup at Cluden and a second in the Ingham Cup over 2000m at his last start under 62.5kg, Portnoy dropped to just 54kg in the Winter Cup and was ultra strong at the end of the 2000m.

After racing on the speed Portnoy forged clear to a 1.3 length win over Fast Train and veteran Play Me Now.

Holt believes the So You Think gelding is not yet fully matured but has the go-forward racing style to run well in the big cups.

“I think we’re yet to see the best of him. He’s still does a bit wrong and is a bit immature.

“But If like today he gets out and rolling along I think he’ll set himself up for a nice run in  the Cup.

“Everything’s coming along well with our Cup horses. Siren Rock pulled up perfectly from his run in Mackay. He was very bright and happy with himself.

“Arctic Wolf had a big eight days. He had two trips down to Mackay, clocked up the kilometres in his races, but he’s pulled up well.

“We’re looking forward to getting them all to the cup.”

The Holts are yet to finalise riders for all three cup runners.

Pictured: Jackson Murphy returns to scale with Portnoy after securing a Townsville Cup start yesterday by winning the Ladbrokes Winter Cup (2000m).

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.