Portelli Punts On Youngster And Goes For Doctor In Cup
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday April 2, 2005
Gary Portelli snared a Redoute's Choice colt with a defect and the last Danehill to go under the gavel. The trainer gambled big-time at this week's William Inglis & Son Easter Yearling Sales but is in no doubt the odds are in his favour.
That's not the case with Dr Loane in today's Sydney Cup, with bookmakers offering triple-figure odds about Portelli's stayer. It matters little to Portelli, for the Warwick Farm-based trainer gambles to win.Take the Redoute's Choice colt he bought for $180,000. Now, that's cheap considering the sire sensation's offspring averaged $611,714 at the sales. But here's the rub: the youngster has a throat problem which has required laser surgery.Portelli explained there was a flap at the bottom of horses' throats shaped like a spade. "When they swallow it opens up and is supposed to come back down," he said. "Sometimes it sits up, it can't come back down, and when the horse breathes it sits up and cuts off their wind."That's why surgery was required. That's why the colt failed to attract much attention. The vendor, Victoria's Blue Gum Farm, made the condition known to everyone."I've had a few of these operations done to my horses," Portelli said. "If done right, it is a complete success, you never have another problem. It's a minor problem but a major one if you don't fix it." Portelli said securing a son of Redoute's Choice, which is by Danehill, was worth the risk. There might not be any risk, though, for Portelli as Blue Gum Farm has taken the horse back to its property.In three months, an independent veterinarian will check the throat and "if it is all clear we will take the horse", Portelli said. If not, no money will change hands. It's a win-win and Portelli added: "It's a bargain.""This could be the story about the horse nobody wanted winning the Golden Slipper," he laughed.On a more serious note, Portelli is thrilled with the colt as a specimen. "Redoute's really stamped him," he said. "He's also got the Danehill look, he has the star on the forehead found in many of the Danehills, he has a bit of white on a pastern and has those big jowls." Portelli was armed with plenty of financial ammunition at the sales but missed out on a couple more Redoute's Choice youngsters so it was time to look for a Danehill. His mate, the respected and astute bloodstock agent Vin Cox, gave the Danehill filly the all clear."We were a bit dejected about missing out on a couple of others so we went back to our list and found the filly," Portelli said. "We were hoping we could land her and, luckily enough, there wasn't much competition. When Redoute's Choice came in there wasn't much interest for Danehill, he was the forgotten sire."Portelli's team parted with $525,000 for the yearling and clients snapped up a large chunk of the galloper, with Portelli saying: "It is quite remarkable. I had a few mates wanting to buy in and they asked, 'How did it vet?'." Portelli informed the crew: "I'll tell you how good it vetted, the vet bought 10 per cent! They were happy to go in this filly because she has such good residual value." Now for Dr Loane, of which Portelli said: "The only time he has found form this whole preparation is when stepping up to 2800 metres. All the other times he has been disappointing. I've wanted to sack him, he was on his last chance and he went to 2800m and won by seven lengths."Portelli knows that was only in restricted grade at Canterbury, but the horse won two 2800m races and the trainer pointed out the 3200m was a concern for many of the favoured Sydney Cup rivals today. "We are confident at least he can run the trip, a lot of the better-performed horses have got to prove it," he said. "It is a long, long way ... once you get to two miles anything can happen."It's all a gamble.
© 2005 Sydney Morning Herald