Boasting eight winners from his past 37 runners striking at 21.6%, Warwick Farm conditioner Gary Portelli has hit a purple patch of form heading into the Christmas period. He lines up three runners at his backyard tomorrow, and believes at least two of them are capable of strong showings.
With his Trapeze Artist colt Flying Trapeze holding a nomination in the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on January 14, Portelli will need him to salute to give him any chance of getting into the select field. After two solid runs in quality company to start the career, he thinks he has found the right race to finally get on the board.
“He’s had two starts, both at top level,” Portelli told Sky Sports Radio on Tuesday morning.
“In the Breeder’s Plate he ran well on a really heavy track, and his next start he ran really good sectionals at the backend of The (Golden) Gift.
“I thought he matched the last couple of furlongs with the winner as far as times went, and he just got back too far that day.
“This is the last throw at the stumps to try and get him qualified for the Magic Millions. It’s probably the best placed race for him now.”
Flying Trapeze has drawn to get a cosy run in transit from gate two and gets the benefit of apprentice Tyler Schiller’s 1.5kg claim bringing his weight down to a manageable 56.5kg.
Later in the card Portelli saddles up his Pride Of Dubai gelding Unrelenting, who is lining up for his fourth run this time in. The five-year-old is another who has been blessed by the barrier gods drawing the inside alley, and gets champion hoop James Mcdonald on his back.
“He’s ready to go,” Portelli said.
“Big heavy horse that has taken a bit to get fit. His run was good the other day, battled on strongly off a really fast tempo.
“J Mac goes on tomorrow and hoping for some J Mac magic and he can get over the line for us.”
Perhaps the lesser of Portelli’s three entrants tomorrow is his I’m All The Talk mare Hollywood Gossip, who is first-up since a disappointing effort at Wyong on July 19. The four-year-old has not fared as well as her stablemates, drawing marble 11 in a maximum field of 13.
In Hollywood Gossip’s favour however, is that she is one from one over the course and distance.
“Fast mare. Drawn a bit awkwardly, every time I accept with her she draws the outside barrier but we’re just going to run her,” Portelli said.
“It is Warwick Farm, one turn and she’s won here at Warwick Farm before.
“She’s going well so we expect her to run a nice race first-up, but there is improvement left in her.”