An overdue win by Absent Friends at Rosehill has boosted trainer Gary Portelli's hopes the five-year-old can live up to his potential this spring.Earlier this month, stablemate Something Anything had to be euthanased when he failed to recover from injuries suffered in a float accident in which Absent Friends was also involved.The two were returning from Brisbane and Something Anything was found lying on the floor of the truck when it got to Sydney."Absent Friends was on the float with Something
An overdue win by Absent Friends at Rosehill has boosted trainer Gary Portelli's hopes the five-year-old can live up to his potential this spring.
Earlier this month, stablemate Something Anything had to be euthanased when he failed to recover from injuries suffered in a float accident in which Absent Friends was also involved.
The two were returning from Brisbane and Something Anything was found lying on the floor of the truck when it got to Sydney.
"Absent Friends was on the float with Something Anything and got off relatively easy with a few lacerations," Portelli said.
"It was great to see him win. The good track was a big help and now we can push on.
"He is nominated for everything, the Metropolitan, the Cups, everything.
"He promised so much early, maybe now he can deliver."
Absent Friends was having his first start since his failure in the Premier's Cup at Doomben in late May when he lined up in Saturday's Rosehill Event Centre Handicap (1500m).
He was sent out at $17 with Syreon the $4.40 favourite.
Recoup De Fortune ($5) led the field into the straight but the pace told and Nathan Berry brought Absent Friends from back in the field to burst through inside the 100 metres.
He beat Cousin Wal ($11) by a long neck with Admirals Honour ($13) another three-quarters of a length third.
By Dehere out of Lady Mulan, Absent Friends was a $600,000 yearling and his win took his prizemoney past the $100,000 mark.