Latest news with #Portelli
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
'Ridiculous': The Block host Scott Cam lashes out at Adrian 'Lambo Guy' Portelli in extraordinary spray after show's controversial billionaire hung up his bidding paddle
Scotty Cam has declared that he will not miss Adrian Portelli at The Block auctions, as his absence will only allow more families to purchase houses. Portelli, also known as "Lambo Guy" for the luxury vehicle he's known to drive to the show's auctions, announced he would retire from bidding after the 2024 season finale, in which the billionaire businessman, 35, purchased the lot for a massive $15.3 million. The owner of luxury giveaway company LMCT+ had dropped a total of $31.68 million on The Block houses since his first appearance on the hit renovation series in 2022, where he posed as a 'phoney' buyer to up bids. He earned a reputation as a predictable figure at the season finales thereafter, thanks to his polished appearance, designer accessories, and habit of arriving in a yellow Lamborghini to snap up the homes. The host of The Block on Monday said he "won't be nervous at all" at the next auction later this year after Portelli dominated the previous two. 'You know, we might not get ridiculous prices, but we're going to give mums and dads the opportunity to buy one of these houses," Scotty told 'And we're going to get families the opportunity to buy one. Or holiday houses for people. It's going to open it right up. We want these homes to go to families. "They eventually do when Portelli buys them, but this way we cut out the middleman. Let's just get them to the families.' Portelli is hoping to offload all five Phillip Island properties he purchased in 2024 to a single buyer after his December lottery for the resort failed. The winner of his giveaway, 34-year-old Holly from Ballarat, opted instead to take an $8 million cash prize, leaving the homes with Portelli. About six months later, in June, the business announced the sale of the mega Block complex via an Instagram callout. 'For Sale. EOI. The Phillip Island Block Resort. Selling complex complete. Everything included. Will not sell houses separately,' he wrote. With Portelli having hung up his bidding paddle, Scotty said he and co-host Shelly Craft hope the 2025 Blockheads can all get over reserve. He said the auction day is always a "very trying time for Shelley and I, adding, "It's the only day we get nervous" for the contestants, whom the hosts want to win and not be set up to fail after all their hard work. As for Craft, she isn't entirely convinced Portelli's Block run is over and wouldn't be surprised if he showed up at the next auction unexpectedly. Although she confirmed Nine hasn't heard from the TV star ahead of The Block's 2025 premiere next Sunday at 7:30 on Nine, she said "who knows" if he will eventually stun everyone with a shock appearance. Blockhead Em, one half of the married couple Emma and Ben, meanwhile, told she is 'a little worried' about Portelli's absence. However, she said she is confident the pair have "created a beautiful house" that one buyer will be "very interested" in. The fresh round of Blockheads will this year build homes from scratch, rather than renovating them, in the Victorian town of Daylesford. As well as building from the ground up, the Blockheads will no longer be allowed to work on their properties overnight, Domain reported. Portelli was embroiled in a scandal earlier this year, when former Today Show sports presenter Alex Cullen made national news after accepting $50,000 from a billionaire to refer to him on air as "McLaren Man". The moment triggered a media firestorm and led to Cullen stepping down from his role at Nine, followed shortly by his departure from the network.
The Age
14-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Sir Lucan heats up again for Winter Cup as Nock gets one hand on title
'It's within reach, definitely,' Nock said of the senior crown. 'But I've got a week's suspension [now], so that probably gives that away a bit, but the apprentices' title is looking pretty good. We'll just keep the momentum rolling and I'm back next Saturday, so I don't miss too much. '[Morgan] is getting a few good opportunities as well so it's obviously going to be hard to run him down.' The two-kilogram claimer took Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Don't Forget Jack ($6.50) and Mickey's Medal ($3) to wins after claiming the Highway Handicap on Matt Dale-prepared Super Norwest. He gave Don't Forget Jack and Mickey's Medal rails runs before finding clear air to let them chase down Tasoraay and Northern Eyes respectively. Kurrinda Bloodstock-owned Super Norwest went forward from a wide gate before getting a seamless run just behind the speed and a clear shot at Antilocapra, which she beat by a short head. 'It was a good win, and I've got to say, that was a 20 out of 10 ride,' Kurrinda Bloodstock's Sean Driver said. Andrew Adkins and Dylan Gibbons also rode multiple winners. Adkins won with Freight Train and Motoscafo, while Gibbons took King Of Roseau and pick-up ride Sacred Rocks to victories. Gibbons' day was soured by a four-meeting (June 22-29) careless riding suspension from race nine with Half Yours, which shifted and severely checked Nock's ride, Cormac T. Filly delivers for Portelli and Calder Spring prospect Queen Of Clubs eased the pain of Warwick Farm trainer Gary Portelli, while giving group-1 winning New Zealand jockey Andrew Calder a thrill in the opening race. The Maurice filly, a $300,000 Magic Millions yearling, was near last before storming through a gap and past her rivals for a one and a quarter-length win over Regulated Affair in the 1400m race for two-year-olds. The maiden win as a $35 Sportsbet chance at her fourth start came a day after Portelli lost Kimochi to a career-ending tendon injury. Kimochi was set to race in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap, won by War Machine on Saturday at Eagle Farm. 'One door closes and another one opens, and I've been saying all along this is my next best thing,' Portelli said. 'I've been waiting for her, she does things at home that are just … I said she just can't get beat on the weekend, then she drew 10 and I thought, we'll just get a better price.' Portelli said Queen Of Clubs would likely be spelled before being aimed the major fillies races in the spring, while group 1-winner Kimochi would be retired. 'It's a pretty decent tear and she's more valuable as a broodmare now,' he said. Saturday's win was also a memorable moment for Calder, whose only other victory in Sydney came 21 years ago. 'I came over just out of my apprenticeship when I was about 20. I rode a listed winner here for Gerald Ryan,' Calder said. 'I've been around. I went to Macau for seven years, Singapore for a year after that, then back to New Zealand for a fair while. Then our whole family moved over here two or three years ago and I've been getting more into it.' Calder and his family are based at Warwick Farm, where he works with father-in-law, Richard Collett. Charity benefits from Baker proposal Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker was again kicking in for a worthy cause after Winning Proposal scored her first win for the stable on Saturday at Rosehill. In her third start for Baker, the three-year-old filly was strong to the line with an inside run under apprentice Anna Roper to win the 1100m benchmark 72 handicap by a half-length from Overfull as a $10 chance. Baker pledged on Friday at a calcutta that he would donate $10,000 to Equine Pathways Australia, a para-equestrian program for people with a disability, if he had a winner anywhere on Saturday. Last month Baker pledged his winnings from Miss Kim Kar's victory at Randwick to Racing NSW's flood relief program for northern NSW participants. King Of Roseau breaks drought The biggest cheers at Rosehill on Saturday came from the owners of King Of Roseau when jockey Dylan Gibbons took the Capitalist three-year-old to a second career win in 16 starts. The Peter Snowden-trained gelding had not won since his debut at Canberra in December 2023 and had since competed several times in stakes and big money races, placing six times. A $14 chance in a 1300m benchmark 78 on Saturday, King Of Roseau sprinted quickly up the inside to easily beat Snack Bar. Loading 'Full credit to the horse, he hasn't won in a long time,' Gibbons said. 'I said to the owners pre-race he's probably the nicest class 1 horse going around. 'I was probably back a bit further than I would have liked, but he was in a beautiful rhythm and when he smoked up behind them, I just needed an out. When he got there, he had a bit of a float but then he went right on with the job.'
Sydney Morning Herald
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sir Lucan heats up again for Winter Cup as Nock gets one hand on title
'It's within reach, definitely,' Nock said of the senior crown. 'But I've got a week's suspension [now], so that probably gives that away a bit, but the apprentices' title is looking pretty good. We'll just keep the momentum rolling and I'm back next Saturday, so I don't miss too much. '[Morgan] is getting a few good opportunities as well so it's obviously going to be hard to run him down.' The two-kilogram claimer took Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Don't Forget Jack ($6.50) and Mickey's Medal ($3) to wins after claiming the Highway Handicap on Matt Dale-prepared Super Norwest. He gave Don't Forget Jack and Mickey's Medal rails runs before finding clear air to let them chase down Tasoraay and Northern Eyes respectively. Kurrinda Bloodstock-owned Super Norwest went forward from a wide gate before getting a seamless run just behind the speed and a clear shot at Antilocapra, which she beat by a short head. 'It was a good win, and I've got to say, that was a 20 out of 10 ride,' Kurrinda Bloodstock's Sean Driver said. Andrew Adkins and Dylan Gibbons also rode multiple winners. Adkins won with Freight Train and Motoscafo, while Gibbons took King Of Roseau and pick-up ride Sacred Rocks to victories. Gibbons' day was soured by a four-meeting (June 22-29) careless riding suspension from race nine with Half Yours, which shifted and severely checked Nock's ride, Cormac T. Filly delivers for Portelli and Calder Spring prospect Queen Of Clubs eased the pain of Warwick Farm trainer Gary Portelli, while giving group-1 winning New Zealand jockey Andrew Calder a thrill in the opening race. The Maurice filly, a $300,000 Magic Millions yearling, was near last before storming through a gap and past her rivals for a one and a quarter-length win over Regulated Affair in the 1400m race for two-year-olds. The maiden win as a $35 Sportsbet chance at her fourth start came a day after Portelli lost Kimochi to a career-ending tendon injury. Kimochi was set to race in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap, won by War Machine on Saturday at Eagle Farm. 'One door closes and another one opens, and I've been saying all along this is my next best thing,' Portelli said. 'I've been waiting for her, she does things at home that are just … I said she just can't get beat on the weekend, then she drew 10 and I thought, we'll just get a better price.' Portelli said Queen Of Clubs would likely be spelled before being aimed the major fillies races in the spring, while group 1-winner Kimochi would be retired. 'It's a pretty decent tear and she's more valuable as a broodmare now,' he said. Saturday's win was also a memorable moment for Calder, whose only other victory in Sydney came 21 years ago. 'I came over just out of my apprenticeship when I was about 20. I rode a listed winner here for Gerald Ryan,' Calder said. 'I've been around. I went to Macau for seven years, Singapore for a year after that, then back to New Zealand for a fair while. Then our whole family moved over here two or three years ago and I've been getting more into it.' Calder and his family are based at Warwick Farm, where he works with father-in-law, Richard Collett. Charity benefits from Baker proposal Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker was again kicking in for a worthy cause after Winning Proposal scored her first win for the stable on Saturday at Rosehill. In her third start for Baker, the three-year-old filly was strong to the line with an inside run under apprentice Anna Roper to win the 1100m benchmark 72 handicap by a half-length from Overfull as a $10 chance. Baker pledged on Friday at a calcutta that he would donate $10,000 to Equine Pathways Australia, a para-equestrian program for people with a disability, if he had a winner anywhere on Saturday. Last month Baker pledged his winnings from Miss Kim Kar's victory at Randwick to Racing NSW's flood relief program for northern NSW participants. King Of Roseau breaks drought The biggest cheers at Rosehill on Saturday came from the owners of King Of Roseau when jockey Dylan Gibbons took the Capitalist three-year-old to a second career win in 16 starts. The Peter Snowden-trained gelding had not won since his debut at Canberra in December 2023 and had since competed several times in stakes and big money races, placing six times. A $14 chance in a 1300m benchmark 78 on Saturday, King Of Roseau sprinted quickly up the inside to easily beat Snack Bar. Loading 'Full credit to the horse, he hasn't won in a long time,' Gibbons said. 'I said to the owners pre-race he's probably the nicest class 1 horse going around. 'I was probably back a bit further than I would have liked, but he was in a beautiful rhythm and when he smoked up behind them, I just needed an out. When he got there, he had a bit of a float but then he went right on with the job.'
Mercury
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Mercury
Kimochi heads into unknown for Queensland Group 1 double shot
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Gary Portelli is striving for his first Queensland Group 1 and is set to give strong mare Kimochi two chances in quick succession to pull off the heist. The Stradbroke Handicap has been the main goal for the Yulong-owned Group 1 winner right from the start of her preparation which included a trio of runs in the Sydney autumn carnival. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Best laid plans have been tweaked with the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup rescheduled to Saturday after being one of the races washed out last Saturday when jockeys complained of poor visibility. But Warwick Farm trainer Portelli said Kimochi will still race in the Kingsford Smith on Saturday as a pipe-opener to the Stradbroke seven days later. He admits the seven-day back-up is a step into the unknown for Kimochi, but feels it could even suit her. • $8000 filly who 'walks like a duck' spices up Stradbroke field 'She will run on Saturday, it's a Group 1 race, and I couldn't go to the 1400(m) of the Stradbroke with her straight away given she has had a big gap between runs,' Portelli said. 'A high pressure handicap like the Stradbroke, they have got to be fit. 'We have never had to back-up before, the program has never had us having to back-up. 'But she is a very tough mare, whenever she races she is normally primed the week afterwards. Gary Portelli is confident Kimochi will handle the back-up into the Stradbroke Handicap. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images 'You actually think to yourself that she looks better the week after, than what she did leading into the race. 'She does cope with pressure, she's a big strong mare and she has been in work for ages. 'It's not like she's coming out of a spell and she's going to be too fresh or underdone. 'She has got a good fitness core.' • Waller gives hobby trainer reason to believe in Stradbroke fairytale Craig Williams rode Kimochi to Group 1 glory in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield last spring and the pair will reunite at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Kimochi is rated an $11 chance in the Kingsford Smith and is the same price for her main mission of the Stradbroke seven days later. Nine-time Group 1 winner Portelli has had some terrific horses campaign in Queensland, including Rebel Dane who finished seventh in the 2014 Stradbroke which was won by Queensland bolter River Lad. But he hopes Kimochi can give him his first Sunshine State Group 1. 'The plan is she will take her place in the Stradbroke, unless we race below expectations this Saturday,' Portelli said. Gary Portelli with Craig Williams and Yulong's Sam Fairgray after Kimochi won the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images 'From the time she came into work this preparation, the Stradbroke was in my mind the goal. 'We have drawn a fantastic barrier (three) in the Kingsford Smith, so she is going to get a soft run. 'That's important because going into the Stradbroke, she is not going to have a gut-buster and be trapped wide or doing work. 'She will get a nice run and accelerate in the straight, if she runs top three then I would be over the moon from a Straddy point of view.' • Maher filly making right noises for Oaks upset repeat Lindsay Park co-trainer Ben Hayes has indicated Rise At Dawn – the winner of eight from 15 starts – will take his place in the Kingsford Smith before being unleashed on the back-up in the Stradbroke. The Lindsay Park dynasty may have its best chance to crack its Stradbroke duck, with raging favourite War Machine ($3) set to be joined by Rise At Dawn ($11) in Queensland's most prestigious race. Originally published as Kimochi set for back-to-back Queensland Group 1 challenges in Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap
1News
02-05-2025
- Business
- 1News
Aus The Block's 'Lambo Guy' to face trial on unlawful lottery charges
High-profile businessman Adrian Portelli will face trial on charges of conducting an unlawful lottery, over a promotion in which the major prize was a house from TV reality show The Block or AU$3 million (NZ$3.2 million) cash. Portelli, 35, of Melbourne was charged with nine counts of conducting or assisting in the conduct of an unlawful lottery in South Australia, while his business Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd, which traded under the name LMCT+, was charged with 10 counts of the same offence. He appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court today via audio link for a pre-trial conference. Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal listed a trial for September 4-5. The charges, instigated by SA's Consumer and Business Services, alleged Portelli's business did not hold a licence to conduct the lotteries in SA. Portelli's company offered members subscriptions to a "rewards club" that included entries to win cars and properties. Under SA law, any trade promotion lotteries with prizes exceeding AU$5000 (NZ$5387.60) needed a licence to operate and entries must be free of charge. "The major prize for the lottery was a property situated in Gisborne in the state of Victoria, as seen on the Australian television show The Block, or a cash prize of AU$3 million ( NZ$3.2 million)," court documents stated. Winning the prize "involved an element of chance" but the defendant "did not hold a licence to conduct the lottery in South Australia". Judge Hribal said, given Portelli's legal team was travelling from interstate and the complexity of the matter, "I'll ask that it has a special listing and some priority". Prosecutors asked for "basic AVL facilities" to play videos at the trial, while defence counsel said it would call two witnesses to give evidence. Portelli gained fame as "the Lambo Guy" in 2022, after arriving at a house auction for The Block in a yellow Lamborghini. In the 2024 series of the reality show, he spent AU$15.03 million (NZ$16.19 million) to acquire all five homes on offer.
