101 Not Out: Porter Star Set For Straight Track Test

THEY say every old fighter has one good punch left in them and trainer James Porter is hoping his grand sprinter Mitch And Murray can deliver that knockout blow on Saturday.

Mitch And Murray, which has raced exclusively at the Richmond Straight during his decorated 100 start career – netting a record 28 victories at the circuit – takes on the might of the irrepressible Shall Not in the Richmond Straight Track Cup (324m).

And whether the result is win, lose or draw for the son of Aston Dee Bee in Saturday's $25,000-to-the-winner finale, Porter can't help but express the admiration he has for the grand four-year-old campaigner.

FIELDS AND FORM RICHMOND STRAIGHT TRACK SATURDAY

"He's probably raced Shall Not 20 times up the straight and only got the better of him once but who knows, maybe Saturday's the day he turns the tables again," Porter said.

"But whatever the result both Sharee and I are just really proud that he's reached 100 starts and is still racing healthy and sound. That's more important than anything."

Porter concedes that had it not been for the advent of straight track racing at Richmond in 2021, Mitch And Murray might have been lost to racing and forced into an early retirement.

"Early on as a pup during pre-training he was showing us he could have been absolutely anything," Porter recalled.

"He broke in on the fast side and his early trials at Maitland were unbelievable. There was two occasions I was a week away from racing him there and his hip support went both times.

"In the end we decided the best thing for him would be just to keep him to straight racing and here we are at 100 starts with the likelihood of many more to come.

"I can't speak highly enough of the benefits of straight racing. I could count on one hand the major injuries I've had up the straight. It's vitally important to the industry and a huge part of what we do here."

When Mitch And Murray steps out for start 101 from box six in the finale, it will cap off what has become an habitual Saturday for the Porter kennel since the inception of straight track racing.

In fact, Porter is the winningest trainer at the venue by a good margin, boasting 110 wins and a further 298 placings from 828 starters.

"Straight racing really suits our dogs because of the way we rear and educate them," Porter said. 

"And I think we've seen that in the results we've achieved."

But for all that success, Porter says it does come with sacrifice.

"My partner Sharee (Robertson) is the backbone of the operation – especially on the weekends," Porter said.

"If not for her it would all fall over. To have the team ready to go on a Saturday morning she kicks off at 2am, leaves at 4am and doesn't get home until well after lunch.

"The work and time she puts in is unbelievable."

With a team of 12 engaged on Saturday morning's card, Porter has declared the progressive Wiggle With It as one of the better chances.

"He just keeps improving every week."

Saturday's Richmond meeting will round out an emotional fortnight for Porter and Robertson with the latter laying to rest her revered mother Eileen on Thursday.

“I'm sure she'll be watching from above on Saturday,” Porter said. “She loved all the dogs of ours but Gambino was her favourite.”