Golden Slipper-winning trainer Gary Portelli will gain more insight into Secret Lady’s potential when she tries to upstage Godolphin’s newcomer at Rosehill.
Secret Lady had to settle for second behind Godolphin colt Dynamited on debut at Rosehill earlier this month now she has an opportunity to turn the tables on his stablemate Plague Stone.
“I’m getting sick of getting beaten by the blue team (Godolphin),” Portelli said.
Cortesta, another member of the Portelli stable’s group of two-year-olds, trailed Godolphin’s Elessidil home at Canterbury last month and Pitch Perfect was third behind Gongs at the same track on Wednesday.
Portelli is hopeful Secret Lady can buck that trend and close in on qualification for January’s Magic Millions meeting on the Gold Coast.
“I was very happy with her first run and she’s come back really good. She’s right on track,” Portelli said.
He weighed up sending Secret Lady to Doomben for a 2YO Handicap worth $40,000 for the winner, but opted to stay at home.
“I thought if we happen to run second we get $28,000 anyway. We’ve already won $18,000 so that’s almost got us in the Magic Millions,” Portelli said.
Secret Lady was the $4 second elect with the TAB on Thursday, behind Plague Stone ($1.85).
The eight-horse field also includes Californiasurprise, a first-up winner at Muswellbrook on November 5.
Portelli nominated Lonhro colt Plague Stone as the main danger.
The trainer will decide Secret Lady’s next step after Saturday’s run but says the $2 million Magic Millions Classic (1200m) is the aim.
“She’s a ladies syndication so there’s that little extra pressure to go to the Magic Million because of the $500,000 bonus,” he said.
Portelli thinks Perfect Pitch will target the autumn carnival after one more outing.
“She just needs to get ground. I think she’s more a mile or 2000-metre horse later on for us,” he said.
