Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Written by Paul Vettise
Gary Portelli produced a smart 2-year-old winner during the week and his hopes of completing a notable juvenile double will rest with the in-form Royalzel (Snitzel) at Flemington.
The Warwick Farm-based Portelli has sent Royalzel south for the Listed Kennedy Taj Rossi Series Final in the hope he can emulate Wednesday’s impressive winning run from Sky Command (Deep Field) on her home track.
“There’s not that much around at this time of the year and this looks a nice race for him over the mile,” Portelli’s Racing Manager, James Fathers, said.
“We would prefer to see it as wet as possible. Flemington is a good drying track so that’s probably the only question mark as he’s certainly in good form.”
Royalzel has excelled on wet ground with his latest victory on Heavy 8 ground at Rosehill, where he romped home after settling at the tail-end of the field.
“Following that win the other day you have to think that he will be a very good chance,” Fathers said. “He’s trained on well and we’re very happy with him.
“Following that win the other day you have to think that he (Royalzel) will be a very good chance.” – James Fathers
“He was really strong to the line so he ticks a lot of boxes. The mile will definitely suit him and the big track at Flemington should be right up his alley.”
Royalzel was thriving on a regular diet of racing and holding his condition and form impressively.
“You can put them out and if they don’t come back any better you are missing out on opportunities so we’re happy to race on and as Gary says, you run out of horse before you run out of races,” Fathers said.
Royalzel | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Royalzel is from a more than handy 2-year-old family and is the first foal out of the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic winner Royal Tithe (Show A Heart) with her dam a half-sister to the Listed Avondale 2YO Fillies’ S. winner Royal Babe (Rory’s Jester).
“If he keeps progressing and going through his grades we will certainly be looking for some smarter stuff for him in the spring,” Fathers said.
Filly a favourite
High future hopes are also held for stablemate Sky Command following an impressive and expected debut win during the week.
“That was a huge win and Gary has always been very keen on her. She was a nice type early on and has just taken a little bit of time to get where she is now,” Fathers said.
“Going to the races, Gary was very, very bullish about her and a couple of weeks beforehand he said he thought she would win, wherever she went.
“We’re keen to keep her in work as well. There is a 2-year-old handicap Saturday week over 1100 metres for her and a 1200 another two weeks’ later.
“If she’s still going well we’ll be looking at the 3-year-old fillies’ restricted races from August onwards.”
Bred and raced by Bert Vieira and family, Sky Command is a daughter of Love Commands (Commands), a daughter of the dual Group 3 winner Sky Love (Octagonal {NZ}).
A headline act in the family is the G1 Emirates S. winner Sky Cuddle (Snippets), who produced the G2 ATC Breeders’ Classic winner and three-time Group 1 placegetter Champagne Cuddles (Not A Single Doubt).
