Sejardan takes first step towards Slipper assault

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

It will be a physically stronger Sejardan (Sebring) on show at Warwick Farm trials on Thursday morning, and one that trainer Gary Portelli believes can match the newly crowned Queen of the Gold Coast, Coolangatta (Written Tycoon) if the pair meet in the Golden Slipper in March.

Sejardan’s Golden Slipper campaign kicks off at 10.33am AEDT in the 2-year-olds' trial, with Portelli saying it is not a trial he’s wanting rider Jason Collett to win but simply to get some fitness into the colt out of Miss Amajardan (Hinchinbrook).

The pathway to the Slipper for the already qualified Sejardan is now the R. Listed Inglis Millennium at Randwick on February 5, followed by the G2 Todman S.

“This preparation will basically be the Millenium first-up, because he’s already qualified for the Golden Slipper… he goes to the Millenium. He then goes five weeks to the Todman and then two weeks to the Slipper,’’ Portelli said.

“He’s come back a lot stronger. Physically, he’s a much stronger horse,’’ Portelli added. “He’s still underdone so we’re not going out there (Thursday) trying to win the trial by any means. It’s just a trial to get him a bit of fitness and then he’ll build from that into the race.’’

Sejardan set to build up

Portelli said Sejardan was just where he wanted him at around 70 to 75 per cent.

“An easy trial will get him pretty close to the mark. We’ll have him ready to go first start but I want him to have some room for improvement as we get into the campaign, peaking on Slipper Day.’’

At his peak, Portelli is confident Sejardan matches the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Coolangata who claimed the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and is hot favourite for the Golden Slipper.

“I think he’s the real deal. I honestly do,’’ Portelli said.

“From what I’ve seen of all the 2-year-olds this year, and drawing a line through the filly Snitcat (Snitzel) that ran third in the Magic Millions, he’s beaten her pretty easy in the (Golden) Gift, coming from 8l off her and beating her probably 2l on that day.

“So I think he’s certainly up to taking on Coolangatta. I’m not saying we’ve got a better horse than Coolangatta by any means, she’s won three from three and we’ve won two from two, but I do believe that my bloke’s good enough to match her.’’

Portelli said the high pressure of the Golden Slipper would likely suit his colt but could be the undoing of Coolangatta.

“He’s a horse that likes to unwind and get into the race when he needs to rather than be a horse that, like her, she’s an on-pace horse and she needs to use a bit of petrol to get to a good spot,’’ he said. “My bloke sits back and comes with a big run.

“I think my bloke’s an ideal horse for a Golden Slipper. In saying that, she’s won three from three, she knows how to win and when she turns up in the Slipper, it’s going to be an interesting race.’’

While other nice 2-year-olds will emerge over the next couple of weeks from a number of the larger stables, Portelli was confident, as unlike others, Sejardan was already qualified for the Golden Slipper.

“I’m in the position where I’m enjoying life and making sure I’ve got him right on the day,’’ Portelli said. ”We’re just hoping, obviously, that we have a trouble-free run with the colt. Like any 2-year-old, they’re not your normal racehorse, anything can go wrong.

“They’re very finicky, they’re developing and they’re changing shape and all that sort of stuff. You’ve just got to hope that it all goes to plan. Everyday that you wake up and there’s no issues, it's a bonus.’’

Stable in full swing

Portelli also has 2-year-old Merchant Navy filly out of Delaluna (Strategic), Marcelline, having a trial at Warwick Farm on Thursday. She is a half-sister to Group 2-placed Quick Feet (Northern Meteor) which won on debut as a 2-year-old.

While coming back into work is a trio of 3-year-olds including wet track specialist Royalzel (Snitzel) who will target the Rosehill Guineas; Clyde (Maurice {Jpn}) who is being prepped for another shot at the Victoria Derby and Akihiro (Maurice {Jpn}) also shaping up for the autumn carnival.

And he was busy buying up the young stock at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with five purchases and landing a total of about 10 to train as syndicators bought others at the Sale.

“I bought some nice horses. A Lonhro colt, Trapeze Artist, a Brave Smash colt and one of each of Snitzel,’’ Portelli said.

“The Brave Smash colt was a nice 2-year-old running type, the Snitzel filly a 2-year-old running type. I thought the Snitzel colt was probably a Guineas type horse, he’s out of the dam of Magicool who won the Derby. He’s a late foaler. A nice, real big loose walking horse. I thought he might be a miler.’’

The Lonhro colt out of Ordos Honor (Fastnet Rock) has got a beautiful pedigree and has potential to make a stallion if he scores some decent results on the track, according to Portelli. His grandam, Valourina (Snippets) is a half-sister to Brave Choice (Dr Fong {USA}) the dam of Group 2 winner Brave Song, and was the dam of 14 to race, 13 of them winners, including Group 2 winners Media (Guilded Time {USA}) and Noire (Foxwedge).

Gallery: Yearlings bought by Portelli Racing at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, images courtesy of Magic Millions

“I thought we bought a horse for everybody,’’ Portelli said. “The Lohnro colt was for a client on his own. I didn’t have to worry about filling him. The others sold pretty quickly.

“The Brave Smash sold on the day, the Snitzel filly sold on the day. I’ve probably got a little bit left in the Snitzel colt and the Trapeze Artist. I'm doing the Trapeze Artist as a ladies' horse. He’s a real 2-year-old and has a good little page on him as well.’’

Portelli said, as expected, the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale delivered some very nice horses across a wide range of price points.

“I missed out on more than what I bought, obviously,’’ he said. “The Sale was pretty strong but I think that sets the tone for the rest of the year. There seems to be a lot of money around.’’