As a two-year-old, Seeking Asylum won as many races as Vancouver although admittedly at a different level.
Golden Slipper winner Vancouver was last night crowned the champion two-year-old of 2014/15 while Seeking Asylum has her own place high in the pecking order at Gary Portelli’s stable.
The winner of four of her five juvenile starts, Seeking Asylum won three of her first four starts racing against older horses on the country and provincial circuit.
She lines up in a 1400m-benchmark 75 for three-year-olds at Randwick on Saturday for what will be just her second start against her own age group, the other resulting in a late-season win at Canterbury.
Portelli has ambitions to take Seeking Asylum to Melbourne for the Group Two Fillies Classic (1600m) at Moonee Valley on October 24.
“We’ll find out tomorrow what we’ve got,” Portelli said.
“I’ve always thought she would be best over a mile and she needs to be competitive at Randwick to take her to Melbourne.
“My only concern is that most of her form is on wet tracks which she won’t get.”
After two months away from the races, Seeking Asylum was a closing fifth in a 1200m fillies and mares race at Warwick Farm on September 23, her only experience of a firm track.
She will be ridden by apprentice Winona Costin who has also been declared on both the stable’s debutantes in the two-year-old Plate (1000m).
“Zafina trialled in fast time and at the moment we are leading towards running her and keeping Divine Action until next week,” Portelli said.
“Divine Action has drawn wide which is not ideal for a first starter. Luckily they have the same owners so we will discuss it overnight before making the final decision.
“The aim with both of them is to get them to the Magic Millions.”
Portelli’s other Randwick runner is Testashadow in the benchmark 85 (1600m).
“He is ready to win,” Portelli said.
“We are also setting him for the Magic Millions day in January.”
