Lincoln Farm graduate Portonian paid the first instalment off his purchase price with a brilliant win on debut in the Westspeed 3YO Handicap (1200m) at Ascot on Tuesday.
Portonian (3g Testa Rossa – Arundel by Canny Lad) was backed confidently by connections before powering home from the back-end of the field to score by next to three lengths. “I was pretty bullish and thought he could knock off the odds-on favourite,” trainer Simon Miller said. “So I pinned the ears back and declared him to the owners.”
Portonian was always travelling comfortably with cover unlike the hot-pot The Millionaire who worked hard in front. “He’s very exciting and is still a preparation or two away from fully maturing,” Miller added. “But he’s got an engine and from the moment I saw him at the sales I wanted to bring him home.”
Miller purchased the winner for $67,500 from the Lincoln Farm consignment at the 2011 Magic Millions National yearling sale. He banked $30,000 first-up for former Fremantle Dockers captain Peter Bell and several other past and present Port players.
Miller and Bell kicked off their partnership in 2011 with feature victories in the G2 Karrakatta Plate (Night War) and LR Supremacy Stakes (Single Spice). Bell won an AFL Grand Final with North Melbourne in 1996 and he also represented the Dockers before retiring in 2008.
Portonian hails from a Newhaven Park family going back to Wilkes mare Valour who foaled 13 winners including the dam of Golden Slipper champion Burst. His dam Arundel has a 2yo colt and a yearling filly by Lincoln Farm shuttler Ready’s Image.
Ready’s Image (More Than Ready) has six lots catalogued for the Inglis Classic Sale starting on January 20. Lincoln Farm’s yearling from Topsinga is the first to parade and he’s a brother to promising BC3 colt Move Like Mick who made $100,000 at the 2012 Classic Sale.
READY’S IMAGE – 2013 INGLIS CLASSIC SALE
62 C Ready’s Image – Topsinga Lincoln Farm
146 C Ready’s Image – Belle Asteri Carramar Park
191 F Ready’s Image – Classic Quest Turangga Farm
200 C Ready’s Image – Concise Ferndale Farm
219 F Ready’s Image – Danzability Macquarie Stud
260 F Ready’s Image – First Drinks Lincoln Farm
PORTONIAN
Lincoln Farm graduate wins at Ascot on New Year’s Day