Snowden undecided about Dark Jewel start for Portillo

By Grahame Timbrell

SYDNEY, May 12 AAP - Trainer Peter Snowden will sleep on the weight Portillo has been given before deciding whether to run her in the Listed Dark Jewel Classic at Scone on Friday.

Snowden is not impressed with the 58kg that Portillo, a three-year-old, has to carry against older mares.

He said he wanted to study the weights overnight and assess the strength of her opposition before deciding whether she starts.

If she does not run Snowden will rely on Rio Osa as his starter in the $110,000 Dark Jewel (1400m).

Stable jockey Kerrin McEvoy will ride whichever horse starts.

Portillo, third in the 2008 Golden Slipper and the winner of the Group Two Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in March, has to concede half a kilo to four-year-old Mary's Grace and a kilo to five-year-old Hairy.

The John O'Shea-trained Espurante, winner of the Magic Millions for fillies and mares at the Gold Coast in January, has 56kg followed by the consistent Lady Game with 53.5kg.

Snowden is happier with the 56.5kg Spinney has been given in Friday's Listed $110,000 Scone Cup (1600m) and McEvoy will ride him.

McEvoy has ridden Spinney at three of his last four starts including when a close fourth to Voice Commander in the Listed Festival Stakes at Rosehill in December.

Spinney was unplaced in the Villiers Stakes and the Tatts Cup, both at Randwick, before being spelled.

He resumed with a good fourth to Kiloton at Rosehill on May 2 when ridden by Hugh Bowman.

Last year, Newton's Rings carried topweight of 57.5kg to win the Cup and this year he has topweight of 58.5kg.

Queenslander Rags To Riches and the Scone-trained With A Chance are equal second topweights with 58kg.

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