Straturbo flying the Portelli stable flag
Gary Portelli has a couple of Group One performers in his Warwick Farm stable but it is the unassuming Straturbo who is flying the flag.
The trainer’s two runners at Rosehill on Saturday – Golden Rose placegetter Sebring Sun and Seeking Asylum – both finished out of the money.
But it was a different story in Brisbane where Straturbo scorched over the Doomben turf for victory in the Listed Chief De Beers Hcp (1050m).
The victory took his record to seven and 10 placings from 40 starts and pushed his prize money past $400,000.
“He is a gem of a horse and the champion of the stable for now,” Portelli said.
“He always gives his best but I’m not sure what we do with him now because he is getting hard to place.
“We will look at the June Stakes here in a couple of weeks but I think the Sydney sprinters are superior to Brisbane.
“We could go back up there for another race or maybe give him a break and get him ready for the Magic Millions again early next year.”
While the gelding still has plenty to give on the track, his five-year-old brother I’m All The Talk has a new home at Mungrup Stud in Western Australia.
A Group Three winner of the Skyline Stakes at two, also has a Group Two second to Terravista in the 2014 Shorts.
“It’s great that he has found a home and I think he will be a very good addition for Western Australia,” Portelli said.
“He was the fastest horse I have trained.”
Both Straturbo and I’m All The Talk are by 2005 Golden Slipper winner Stratum out of Weekend Gossip, a half sister to multiple Group One winner Mentality.