Heavy rain in and around Sydney has lifted Gary Portelli’s hopes veteran Za Magic can claim his first win in almost three years at Warwick Farm.
But the trainer is also hoping there has not been so much rain that it will put Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting in doubt.
Only five of 17 scheduled barrier trials were run at the track on Tuesday.
“The rain hasn’t stopped here,” Portelli said.
“I’m just hoping the meeting can go ahead because Za Magic has some good wet track form.
“He is a one-paced horse who will go to the front and hopefully it will slow down all the young horses behind him.
“He may be a nine-year-old but the owners love him and we have decided to give him one or two more rolls of the dice.
“He loves being a racehorse. When I go out in the morning he is always playing around and keen to get to his work.
“And he has been sound as a bell since he’s been with us.”
Racing NSW stewards will inspect the track in the morning.
Za Magic did his early racing with Maryann Thexton who prepared him to win the 2009 Group Three Doomben Classic and the Listed Sunshine Coast Guineas which was run on the heaviest track possible.
He spent almost two years away from racing with a leg injury. When he came back he was transferred to Brian Smith and won two races on wet tracks.
The Kris Lees-trained Unique is the early $2.70 favourite with Za Magic a $21 chance.
Za Magic will have the services of premier jockey James McDonald.
At the other end of the age scale, Za Magic’s two-year-old stablemate Sebring Sun has pulled up well from his third behind Haptic at Randwick on Saturday.
The colt is Portelli’s leading juvenile and the one he thinks is his best hope yet in a Golden Slipper.
“In hindsight, perhaps he wasn’t tuned right up for Saturday but there is plenty to work with,” Portelli said.
“We have a few options and will consider the Lonhro Plate and the Black Opal.”
