Australia: Portelli has 1-2 punch in Gosford handicap

There is an excellent chance Australian trainer Gary Portelli will win the seventh race at Gosford Racecourse north of Sydney on Tuesday.

In a field of 13 in a six-furlong handicap, Portelli starts expected favorite Spaceboy, the 136.6-pound topweight, and Exceltic, who is second in the weights at 130 pounds.

They both have the credentials to win.

Spaceboy, a 3-year-old Australian-bred gelding, has won 2 of 13 starts, the most recent of which was a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs on June 18 at Wyong Racecourse. Spaceboy, who has won two of his last four starts following a three-month layoff, is expected to set the pace in his first career start at Gosford.

He led throughout the June 18 race as the 131-pound topweight.

Exceltic will be farther back in the field. A 4-year-old gelding, Exceltic closed from eighth to finish second by a half-length in a five-furlong handicap on June 11 at Gosford in his first start in more than 11 months. Exceltic won a maiden race at Gosford at 5 1/2 furlongs in December 2018 for his only victory in 17 starts and is winless in six career starts at six furlongs.

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First post time at Gosford is 10:10 p.m. Eastern, or 7:10 p.m. Pacific, on Monday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Through Saturday, Portelli had won with three of his last 20 runners, a span that includes Spaceboy’s win on June 18.

Of the runners Portelli does not train, Patrina will attract support in her first start since mid-March. A 5-year-old mare, Patrina was second in her first three career starts from late January to early March before a maiden race win at 7 1/2 furlongs on March 17 at Hawkesbury Racecourse. She has set the pace, but seems more effective from a stalking position.