Villiers next for duo
THE Golden Slipper- winning combination of trainer Gary Portelli and jockey Ben Melham is joining forces again to chase more big- race success at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Portelli has enticed Melbournebased Melham to travel interstate and partner the in- form Testashadow in the Group 2 $ 250,000 Villiers Stakes ( 1600m).
Earlier this year, Portelli and Melham teamed up for a famous Golden Slipper win with filly She Will Reign.
“Ben has agreed to ride Testashadow in the Villiers and he will stay here until Tuesday morning so he can ride Secret Lady in a Warwick Farm barrier trial,’’ Portelli said.
“I wanted him to get the feel of Secret Lady as he will ride her in the Magic Millions as well.’’
Portelli is growing increasingly confident he can make Melham’s Sydney “long weekend” worthwhile because the trainer is taken by the improvement in Testashadow since the gelding edged out Mister Sea Wolf in the Festival Stakes ( 1500m) at Rosehill this month.
“Testashadow is spot on, he is peaking for the Villiers,’’ Portelli said. “He looks fit now but before he was ‘ fat’ first- up and then needed the run again in the Festival Stakes but is starting to ‘ cut up’ nicely.
“He is very fit and will have his final fast gallop on the track ( this morning).’’
Testashadow is among 18 entries for the Villiers, which include boom Godolphin galloper Interlocuter, laststart Goulburn Cup winner Dark Eyes, ageless Destiny’s Kiss, Cabeza De Vaca, Crack Me Up, Federal, Mighty Lucky and Red Excitement.
Portelli said She Will Reign was “going enormous” ahead of an autumn sprint campaign.