Having put the disappointment of Fireburn’s controversial Queensland Oaks scratching behind him, Gary Portelli is looking to the spring with renewed enthusiasm.
The filly was a short-priced favourite for the Oaks after sweeping to victory in The Roses, but two days out from her grand final, Queensland Racing Integrity Commission veterinarians ordered her withdrawal, deeming her lame.
Despite Portelli’s protests that Fireburn had a quirky gait, the decision stood, prompting connections to end her campaign and refocus on the spring.
The rising four-year-old is now back in work at her trainer’s Warwick Farm base and Portelli believes she has returned in better shape than ever.
“She has come back enormous,” Portelli said.
“She is big and strong, she’s moving fantastic and I think she’s in for a big prep.
“She has just started some fast work so she will more than likely race the first week in September.
“I’m not sure what race yet, there are a few to aim at. We will see how she comes up and how she trials and she’ll tell us.”
Fireburn’s half-brother Kintyre is more forward in his preparations and while he might never reach the heights of his 2022 Golden Slipper-winning sibling, he has shown ability, beaten less than 2-1/2 lengths when fifth to Tom Kitten in the Listed Fernhill Mile (1600m) in April.
He will kick off at Newcastle on Saturday as Portelli looks to build the youngster’s confidence.
“We’ll start in a low-level race and get some confidence up, then start to step him up in distance once he’s ready,” he said.
“We’re hoping to see improvement from him, but we won’t know until we see him race day.
“I did like the way he trialled though, I thought that was much better.”
