Trainer Gary Portelli is hoping to unearth another spring surprise as Queen Of Clubs and Encap prepare to tackle tough assignments at Randwick on Saturday.
Queen Of Clubs, a $20 chance in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), will look to bounce back after suffering a cardiac arrhythmia when eighth in the Flight Stakes (1600m) earlier this month.
“She has come through the run well,” Portelli said.
“They have a heart arrhythmia once and it never happens again… they usually do bounce back.”
While Queen Of Clubs takes on the boys, stablemate Encap will line up in the Listed Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m) as a $15 chance after finishing strongly in the Epsom Handicap.
“Encap is coming out of the Epsom and it was a good run,” Portelli said. “Hopefully things are run to suit for him.”