Portelli out to continue Classic streak in the Inglis Millennium

Saturday’s Inglis Millennium is run the day before the Classic Sale, which is appropriate given the impact the offering has had on the 1100-metre race for Inglis graduates.

The Millennium has been run as a $2 million event three times with each winner being a Classic graduate. Castelvecchio, who cost $150,000, won in 2019, Prime Star ($55,000) in 2020 and Profiteer ($165,000) last year.

The year’s edition has attracted a field of 16 plus one emergency, only four of whom were sold at Classic.

Warwick Farm trainer Gary Portelli puts the polish on two of them, including TAB’s $3.70 favourite Sejardan, a son of Sebring who cost $160,000.

The colt has banked $665,000 via wins in the Group 3 Breeders Plate (1000m) and the $1 million Golden Gift (1100m), leaving Portelli regretful of his decision to sell the colt.

“A few (owners) jumped in quickly but then I thought, ‘I’m probably going to own about half of this horse’ for a while,” Portelli told RSN.

“I did some videos of him and promoted the horse and some keen eyes saw him and fell in love with him. Unfortunately, they bought all the shares and I didn’t keep any of them.

“But I get 10 percent (trainer’s percentage) this weekend and, to my maths, that’s about $120,000 if he happens to win, so I don’t need a share.”

Sejardan’s stablemate Vaderzan ($130,00), Fire And Ice and Russian Assassin – who each cost $80,000 – are the other Classic purchases in this year’s race.

Sejardan is also prominent in Golden Slipper markets and Portelli has tried to balance things so he’s got Sejardan sharp enough for this weekend but strong enough for the March 19 Slipper.

“He might be steaming home when it’s all over, looking for that 1200 (metres), that’s probably the only query for me, so I’ve kept a little bit of a speed in his legs,” Portelli said.

Of Vaderzan, a son of first-season sire Invader who is a last-start Canterbury third placegetter, Portelli is bullish after drawing the inside barrier.

“He galloped with Fireburn on Saturday morning, she’s already won two Saturday races, and he played with her in that gallop,” Portelli said.

“He’s got plenty of upside to him and he’s drawn a great gate, so I’m quietly confident he’ll pay his way on Saturday.”

This year’s Inglis Classic Sale begins at 10am Sunday with the 810-lot catalogue to be offered across three days.