GARY Portelli, the reigning Golden Slipper-winning trainer, knows what he is up against when his fillies Secret Lady and Perfect Pitch take on super filly Sunlight in the Group 3 $ 175,000 Magic Night Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Sunlight, winner of the Magic Millions and Silver Slipper at her last two starts, has been stabled at Warwick Farm in recent weeks and Portelli has been in awe of some of the filly’s gallops.
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“Sunlight is one of the fastest I’ve ever clocked at Warwick Farm, she is a machine,’’ Portelli said.
“I know it is going to be tough for Secret Lady and Perfect Pitch but we have to roll the dice.
“It is unusual to run into the Golden Slipper favourite a week before the big race but we have to run our fillies to try and get in to the field next week.’’
Secret Lady is 18th in order of entry and Perfect Pitch 34th for the $ 3.5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill on Saturday week. Sunlight is exempt from ballot and the $ 4 favourite for the world’s richest juvenile race.
Sunlight, trained by Tony McEvoy, is expected to continue her winning momentum on Saturday and is a dominant $ 1.50 favourite with the Portelli pair, Secret Lady at $ 19 and Perfect Pitch $ 26.
Portelli warned punters should disregard Secret Lady’s struggling last start seventh in the Widden Stakes behind Fiesta.
“Secret Lady’s last run was a dot ball,’’ said Portelli, who prepared She Will Reign to win the Golden Slipper last year.
“She was four-deep the journey and battled on as good as she could. She has drawn well, has had a freshen up and if she can place it means she gets some black type which means a lot, and that should be enough to get her into the Slipper next week.
“I’m not sure if Perfect Pitch is quite up to this level but we will give her the chance to show what she can do. Maybe a race like the Baillieu over the carnival would sit her.’’
Portelli also revealed glamour filly She Will Reign is likely to have a solid workout at Warwick Farm on Saturday morning before heading to Melbourne on Wednesday to prepare for the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley next Friday night.
