She Will Reign to rule at Rosehill
There are few horses in Gary Portelli’s stable who can match it for speed with She Will Reign so the trainer has called on stakes-winning sprinter Straturbo to test her in a gallop leading into the Silver Slipper.
The filly is the Golden Slipper favourite but has to take a major step in Saturday’s Silver Slipper at Rosehill.
The filly’s two starts have netted wins in a Kembla Grange maiden and a sales-restricted race, both over 1000 metres.
She earned her Golden Slipper favouritism with a recent nine-length barrier trial win but her trainer admits she needs to perform over the 1100 metres on Saturday to prove she can be a force.
“I think she looks like a horse who will run over more ground but so far she’s been brilliant over short courses,” Portelli said.
“She jumps and runs and we thought we might try to harness her speed but it didn’t work in the trial.
“If she is to be a genuine Golden Slipper contender she has to win over further.
“She will have a gallop with Straturbo on Tuesday morning. He is a very fast horse and might be able to test her.
“But despite her speed she has the best attitude. She is so laid back and doesn’t get worked up at all.
“She just goes out and runs fast.”
The filly’s prize money from the Inglis Nursery doesn’t count towards a Slipper berth so she needs to boost her earnings in the Silver Slipper or the Reisling Stakes.
Staturbo has been entered for an 1100m-benchmark race at the Rosehill meeting.
There were 12 entries taken on Monday for the Silver Slipper including She Will Reign’s stablemate Single Bullet who has finished second in his two starts.
Single Bullet had been among the market leaders for the Magic Millions but Portelli pulled the pin when he didn’t win his second start.
“We hope to get him qualified for the Slipper,” Portelli said.
Unbeaten Rockhampton filly Paraids Imperial is among the nominations and is also entered for Eagle Farm on Saturday.
She won four races in north Queensland then franked her form with a decisive win at Eagle Farm last month.