Homebody Straturbo relishes a trip away
Straturbo doesn’t like being away from his home at Warwick Farm for too long.
But his trainer Gary Portelli says the rising seven-year-old also doesn’t mind a bit of travelling.
Straturbo is set for another long float trip, this time to Melbbourne, to contest the Jezabeel Handicap over 1000m at Flemington on Saturday.
It will be Straturbo’s fifth extended road trip this year after starting his preparation at the Magic Millions raceday at the Gold Coast in January.
Straturbo has since had a trip to Melbourne along with two recent 12-hour journeys to Brisbane resulting in a last-start win in Listed grade at Doomben.
“He’s a fantastic traveller,” Portelli said.
“He’s goes up, races and then comes home the next day.
“He loves being in his home stable but he loves the travel also.
“He seems to go better when I travel him.”
Straturbo leaves on the Wednesday before the race allowing two days to get over the journey.
But he said the Melbourne trip was a little easier at 10 hours and with a lot less winding roads.
Portelli said Straturbo would leave on Thursday evening, arrive in Melbourne on Friday morning, have a pick of grass and a walk, race on Saturday and then be on the truck and back home on Sunday.
“After that we’ll decide what we do with him,” Portelli said.
“I’m dodging the wet tracks up here (in Sydney) and there’s nothing for him in Brisbane.
“Flemington is probably the best drying track in Australia and that’s a reason for heading down but it also looks a nice race for him.
“He’s also performed well enough down the straight without winning before.
“We’ll give him this run and if the rain continues and the tracks keep continuing to be soft we’ll probably pull up stumps and get him ready for the Magic Millions next January.”
Straturbo is rated an $8 chance on Saturday with former Sydney galloper Alberto Magic, now in the care of Caulfield trainer Mick Price, the $3.40 favourite.