Portelli hoping for perth magic
9 January, 2018
Owners
Gary Portelli is no stranger to winning feature two-year-old races, and he is hoping his trip to the 2017 Perth Magic Millions sale can deliver him another substantial payday in this Saturday’s Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic on the Gold Coast.
Portelli purchased filly Secret Lady, bred by Alan and Sue Olive at Gold Front Thoroughbreds, in Perth last February for $150,000, and has recorded one win and two seconds from three starts in her first season of racing.
“She is quite a nice type,” Portelli told TABradio’s The Sports Daily.
“For Your Eyes Only was a great mare in WA, so we are bringing the West Australian form to the east coast.
Gold Front have a half-sister to Secret Lady by the recently deceased sire, Blackfriars in the 2018 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale; which takes place at the Belmont Park Sales Complex on February 19 and 20, nine days after the Magic Millions raceday at Pinjarra Park on February 10.
Last season, Portelli won the Golden Slipper with She Will Reign, and although he doesn’t think Secret Lady is quite up to the class of that filly, he said he was confident the daughter of For Your Eyes Only could measure up in this Saturday’s $2 million event, despite drawing barrier 11.
“When you see the main speed is drawn to the outside, if we can cross those other horses we might end up in a good spot.
“We have a fit horse that is ready to win.”
Secret Lady, an $18 chance with TABtouch for this Saturday’s feature, won the Golden Gift at Rosehill in November, before being beaten as favourite at Randwick on December 30, but Portelli said he expected that run would have the filly ready for Saturday.
“She was a bit vulnerable late, and she got beaten, but she has trimmed right up and we’ve got her spot on for the race” he said.
“Collectively, this is the strongest Magic Millions I have seen.
“Usually, you see one or two standouts and they come away in the straight.
“This year, I think there’s five really good chances.”
In addition to the $2 million in prizemoney, Secret Lady will be racing for a share in an additional $500,000 bonus, for gallopers that have all female ownership.
Tim Walker