Golden Slipper winner Fireburn will be in illustrious company when she makes her first public appearance of the new season in a Rosehill barrier trial.
The filly will step out in a 900m course proper heat on Friday that boasts star galloper Zaaki, Group 1 winners Fangirl and Hinged, and classy sprinter Overpass.
Fireburn’s stablemate Sejardan will line up in the same trial and trainer Gary Portelli is rapt with how well the pair has come back.
“Both horses are stronger and they look fantastic. Their coats look like summer coats, so they have done really well,” Portelli said.
Fireburn showed no Golden Slipper hangover in the autumn, adding the Sires’ Produce Stakes to her resume and falling just short of clean sweeping Sydney’s juvenile triple crown when runner-up to She’s Extreme in the Champagne Stakes – all on heavy tracks.
Portelli is the first to admit she will need to go on with the job to dispel any notion she was advantaged by the wet conditions, or that she could be the latest victim of the ‘Golden Slipper curse’.
“She has won a race since (the Slipper), but they’ve got to come back at three. That is always a worry,” he said.
“From what I’ve seen this preparation, we saw a horse that knew nothing when we started off with her, now she is coming back in, knows everything and is a stronger horse.
“I can’t see any reason why she can’t come back and be dominant again.”
Brenton Avdulla retains the spring ride on Fireburn, who is set to resume in The Run To The Rose (1200m) on September 10.
Sejardan is coming to hand more quickly and could kick off in the Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) two weeks earlier, pending his trial performance.
Both horses are being aimed towards the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) on September 24.
They will be among a host of talent lining up in Friday’s heats along with the likes of Montefilia and Mo’Unga, while Slipper runner-up Best Of Bordeaux and exciting filly Paris Dior are also scheduled to trial.
