Connections of the high-flying Kintyre are unlikely to press onto the Queensland Derby despite the Gary Portelli-trained three-year-old’s win in the Queensland Guineas 2024 on Saturday.

2024 Queensland Guineas winner Kintyre (pictured at Rosehill) is unlikely to be stretched to 2400m for the Derby in Brisbane. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Hallowed Crown gelding made it back-to-back wins backing up from a narrow Randwick success on Heavy going in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate on April 20 to salute in Eagle Farm’s Group 2 $350,000 Queensland Guineas (1600m) over the mile.

Portelli had some doubts about the firmer surface in Brisbane after the horse thrived on the wet Sydney course, but Kintyre proved his class and versatility saluting in a strong performance.

“That was the worry coming into today, the track dried out,” he told the media post-win.

“I was hoping we’d see some rain…but he didn’t need it.

“He’s just a good horse. He’s a really good horse. He’s come good with time.”

Ridden by talented apprentice Cejay Graham, Kintyre charged home up the rails and held off the fighting runner-up Razors from the Godolphin stable, while local runner Robert Heathcote-trained Press Link was an eye-catching third in the day’s namesake race.

Posting her biggest career win to date, Graham was good on the Queensland Guineas winner.

She was happy to charge up the inside and emulate the run of Vlad Duric on Antino who won the Victory Stakes the run prior from a similar position.

“I’ve been watching her since she came up here and she rode a winner for me, Spaceboy, and she helped me out when I had Fireburn up here, I had her for trackwork up there, and I said I’ll repay you for helping me out,” Portelli said of Graham.

“She comes out here and I’ve put her on this horse in a Group 2 and a very good ride.

“She just punched him out and got a good spot.

“I said ‘don’t be worried about going inside’, it looked like from the last winner it’s not inferior ground and he’s a tough horse.

“She rode him a treat. She’s a good rider!”

Portelli confirmed the Group 3 $250,000 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben on May 18 was the likely next-up option for the Queensland Guineas champ, but was unsure whether he’d stay the Derby distance following that.

“The Rough Habit Plate definitely in a fortnight’s time,” he said.

“I don’t know that he’ll stay, so I’m just a bit worried about taking him out to the 2400 (metres).

“If he can’t run, you can often ruin a good horse.”

Kovalica (2023) last Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival completed the Queensland Guineas – Queensland Derby double.

This year’s Group 1 $1 million Queensland Derby (2400m) runs back at the Eagle Farm track on June 1.

All-in 2024 Queensland Derby betting on Kintyre to do the double is into $11 with full markets from Ladbrokes.com.au available by clicking here.

Portelli however is more tempted to put Kintyre away after the Rough Habit and focus on a spring return that could include a shot at the $10 million The Golden Eagle race in Sydney.

“He’s got a big future. He’s getting better with time and you know he might be a Golden Eagle next preparation a $10 million race we might have a crack at that, that’d be nice,” he said.

Futures 2024 Golden Eagle betting at Ladbrokes.com.au on the November 2 showdown currently list Kintyre at $101 and can be found in full here.

2024 Queensland Guineas Results & Finishing Order  

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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