News

Gary Portelli may have three Slipper runners

26th Mar 2009

The Daily Telegraph - Ray Thomas - Thursday, 27 March 2009

TRAINER Gary Portelli, who has an uncanny knack with two-year-olds, is hoping to boost his Golden Slipper representation in must-win races for Sheeznodoubt and Romanus at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow.

Portelli already has Delago Bolt safely in the Slipper field and believes Sheeznodoubt capable of joining her stablemate by winning the Group Two $150,000 Parramatta Leagues Club Magic Night Stakes (1200m).

Romanus, a vastly under-rated youngster, continues to surprise his trainer and could also emerge as an unlikely Golden Slipper contender if he wins the Group Two $150,000 Darley Pago Pago Stakes (1200m).

The make-up of next week's $3.5 million AAMI Golden Slipper field will be determined by results from tomorrow's final two trials.

Of the 18 fillies (including two emergencies) entered for the Magic Night, only Indian Ocean is assured of a start next week.

The situation is even more dire for the colts and geldings contesting the Pago Pago (Darley) Stakes with all nine runners including boom colt Tickets needing to win to get into the 16-horse Slipper field.

Sheeznodoubt goes into her make-or-break race a much fitter filly after a comeback win at Warwick Farm and Romanus impressed last start with a good third behind Manhattan Rain in the Skyline Stakes.

"Sheeznodoubt pulled up a little shin sore after she ran in Melbourne last spring and it meant I had to give her longer in the paddock so we have been racing the clock a bit to have her ready for autumn," Portelli said.

"I was embarrassed and worried about how she looked going out to race first-up at Warwick Farm because she was carrying so much condition but she was able to win well.

"When you see her (tomorrow) she will look a different filly to the one who raced at Warwick Farm.

"Maybe the 1200m might be a touch too far for and they swamp her late but I guarantee she will give them something to chase. I reckon she will look the winner with 100m to go."

Portelli conceded the Golden Slipper was not on Romanus' program but the colt could change everything by winning tomorrow.

"If he happened to win, then we would look closely at the Golden Slipper," he added.

"We thought this colt would need more time but he is tough and has just kept improving. What he is doing now is on natural ability because I still believe he is going to make a very good three-year-old."

Portelli doesn't have the stable numbers or big-spending owners of some of his more high-profile peers but there is no denying the consistent success he enjoys with his two-year-olds each season.

When Delago Bolt romped away with the Black Opal Stakes at Canberra earlier this month, it gave Portelli his third win in the feature race after Down The Wicket (2006) and Coral Salute (2001). He also managed to qualify two runners in last year's Golden Slipper - Typhoon Fury and Over The Wicket.

For any trainer, getting one runner into the Golden Slipper field is no mean feat but having multiple representation in successive years would be a real advertisement for Portelli's skills with two-year-olds.

"They are so genuine, they will run their hearts out for you."

He follows a simple, proven formula when preparing his juvenile team each season.

"Early in the season I identify which two-year-olds are the more precocious types and those which need more time," Portelli said.

"Then it is about educating them, giving them a chance to get to the races, keeping them sound and finding the right races for them."

Portelli revealed Black Opal Stakes winner Delago Bolt and Sheeznodoubt "virtually picked themselves" from the start of the season: "We thought Romanus would need more time so his improvement has been a real bonus," he continued. "Delago Bolt showed us something from the moment we asked him to gallop fast and then along came Sheeznodoubt."

"They both had their first barrier trials the same day and won them easily but Sheeznodoubt ran about a second faster than the colt.

"We got Delago Bolt into the Golden Slipper but hopefully we can get Sheeznodoubt and maybe even Romanus qualified, too - to have two or even three runners would be pretty special."