A half-brother to Golden Slipper winner and Champion 2YO Fireburn, Hallowed Crown gelding Kintyre might have claimed his last start win in the Group III ATC Frank Packer Plate in the steward’s room, but this time he got the win at the post taking the Group II BRC Queensland Guineas (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday by a neck.
Trained by Gary Portelli, Kintyre was given a super ride by Cejay Graham and slipped up along the inside to challenge and was super strong to the line.
"The race couldn't have worked out any better. From the good alley, we got such a sweet run and were able to make the leaders do enough work to bring us into the race,” said a delighted Cejay Graham.
“When the leader peeled out I knew we were going to have such a sweet travel through. I couldn't believe it when he poked his head in front, it's a feeling like no other."
Gary Portelli has always been a big supporter of women riders and Jamie Kah won on Kintyre at his previous start.
"I've been watching Cejay since I came up here, she rode a winner for me on Spaceboy and helped me out when we had Fireburn up here, so I wanted to repay her,” said Portelli.
“I put her on this horse in a Group 2, I told her not to be worried about going up the inside because it's not inferior ground. He's a tough horse and she rode him a treat."
Bred by Laurel Oak Bloodstock in partnership with Goodwood Farm and retained to race, Kintyre runs for a very happy group of owners and has the overall record of four wins and seven placings from 21 starts with prizemoney topping $700,000.
“He's just a good horse and I'd like to thank Laurel Oak Bloodstock for giving me the chance to train the half-brother to Fireburn. We've also got the half-brother from the Easter Sales by Pierata, so we're looking forward to seeing him in the stables. The mare (Mull Over) is a fantastic mare, and she makes me look good which is hard to do!" Portelli added.
“He'll go to the Rough Habit Plate in a fortnight's time, I'm just a bit worried about him seeing out 2400m. I don't want to ruin a nice horse because he's got a big future. I'd love to have a crack at the Golden Eagle next prep.”
Kintyre is the second foal and second stakes-winner for Mull Over, a winning half-sister by So You Think to stakes-winner Galizani from the family of Group I AJC Flight Stakes winner Danarani.
Purchased by Laurel Oak from the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for just $22,000, Mull Over has a yearling colt by Pierata that was offered by Goodwood Farm at Inglis Easter and purchased by Laurel Oak Bloodstock for $460,000. He too will be trained by Gary Portelli.
She appears to now be in foal to Fireburn’s sire Rebel Dane after missing to him in 2022.
Kintyre is one of seven stakes-winners for Twin Hills Stud’s Hallowed Crown, who is a great value sire priced at $8,800 this spring.
