Exciting freshman adds to imposing tally

EXCITING freshman Tasty Delight will be given a short break before embarking on another feature campaign.

Successful in the Sapling Stake at Club Menangle three weeks ago, Tasty Delight added to his imposing tally by capturing last night’s Group One Bathurst Gold Crown.

Thrilled with Tasty Delight’s progress, trainer Brian Portelli plans to give the Australian Pacing Gold purchase a freshen-up ahead of the New South Wales Breeders’ Challenge.

Should programming remain unchanged, the futurity is due to begin in June.

“I was looking at the APG series with him, but that has been postponed because of the Coronavirus,” Portelli said.

“So I will give him a break now, then get him going again for the Breeders’ Challenge all going well.

“He has done a fantastic job and will benefit from a bit of time off.”

With Portelli in the cart during his latest victory, Tasty Delight was caught three-wide early from barrier six before being sent forward to sit outside Lochinvar Chief, which led from gate two.

Showing a tremendous amount of intestinal fortitude, the gelding claimed the lead in the last stride to score by a head from the pacemaker, with Idyllic a metre away third.

“I was hoping to slot into a nice trail from the draw, but the way it turned out at the start with Ideal Dan galloping I ended up in the death seat,” Portelli said.

“He did all the work and just kept finding…it was a super run.”

Owned by Charlie Cordina, the two-year-old rated 1:54.4 over 1720 metres to take his record to four wins and a third from five starts for earnings of $85,450.

“That’s his owner’s first Group One and he would have loved to be at the track for it, but understands it’s not possible at the moment,” Portelli said.

“He still got to watch the race and is happy with the win.”