Gary Portelli has already trained the winner of one rich sales-restricted race for two-year-olds this season and is keen to bag another at Randwick.
She Will Reign took out the $500,000 Inglis Nursery in December as the odds-on favourite and is the market leader for the Golden Slipper.
Nicci’s Gold is a $35 chance for Saturday’s $250,000 Inglis Classic (1200m) but Portelli believes she is better than those odds suggest.
The filly only beat one runner home on debut at Canterbury a week ago but finished less than four lengths from the winner after jumping from the widest gate.
“I thought she went all right the other night,” Portellis said.
“She drew poorly and had to go back to last and they didn’t pour on the speed like they probably will in this race.
“She’s fit and I don’t think she’s out of it.”
Like She Will Reign who cost $20,000, Nicci’s Gold was relatively inexpensive at $25,000.
“She was bought by a new syndicate called Gold Edge and is their first horse,” Portelli said.
“They were the ones who picked her out not me.
“They have a scientific approach and go through all the pedigree statistics and liked hers.”
The John Thompson-trained Sweet Deal is the $4 favourite for the Inglis Classic after her debut third in the Group Three Widden Stakes.
