Given his long-term aspirations for juvenile Queen Of Clubs, Gary Portelli isn’t expecting her to win at Rosehill on Saturday.
However, he is anticipating a competitive performance when she steps up to 1300 metres for the first time in the Schweppes Handicap.
Portelli eventually hopes Queen Of Clubs can develop into a handy middle-distance filly and with that in mind, he is keen to see her closing off strongly in Saturday’s assignment.
“She shows a lot at home,” Portelli said.
“She has finished off well in her trials and is a get-back, run-on type of horse so we won’t be seeing anything different from her this weekend.
“We will work out one or two starts this campaign then stop, come back for the spring and see if she will end up in any of the classic fillies’ races.
“She is by Maurice so I think she’ll get out to 2000-metres the way she gallops.”
Queen Of Clubs was precocious enough to line up in the first juvenile race of the Sydney season, finishing midfield behind Bel Merci in the Gimcrack Stakes (1000m).
She again made late headway when three lengths from The Playwright in an 1100m contest in November before being spelled.
Her next campaign was thwarted by a strained muscle, forcing Portelli to send Queen Of Clubs back to the paddock after a barrier trial in February, but he said it had been smoother sailing this time around.
He views Saturday’s race as a solid starting point and won’t be surprised to see his charge surging late.
“Where she gets to in the run, I don’t care, as long as I see her really lengthening and for her last furlong to be her best one,” Portelli said.
“Then I can build from there.”
Ash Morgan has the ride on Queen Of Clubs, who has drawn barrier five in the field of eight.
