The combination that landed trainer Gary Portelli the Group One Railway Stakes in New Zealand last year will be reunited in this Saturday’s Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield.
Michael Rodd will team up with Gold Trail in Saturday’s feature event for the first time since he partnered the horse in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot last year.
Since returning from England, Gold Trail has had just two runs, a fourth in the Chief De Beers Handicap at Doomben during the winter carnival and a disappointing fifth in the Monash Stakes at Caulfield.
Portelli was critical of Craig Newitt’s ride on his horse in the Monash, and has made the decision to go back to Michael Rodd.
“I don’t like making excuses but he should have been faster in the lead,” Portelli said.
“He (Newitt) probably just cuddled him a bit too much and everything had a chance to beat him from behind. Michael Rodd gets back on it in the Bletchingly at Caulfield. He knows the horse and what it is capable of.”
Portelli also confirmed that Gold Trail had pulled up well from his last start and should be in peak fitness by the time the Bletchingly rolls around.
Gold Trail, who was fourth in the Krisflyer International Sprint in Hong Kong last year has received another invitation to this year’s race, however Portelli believes that is not a viable option at this stage.
“He has been invited to Singapore, but I don’t think he’ll have any form on the board leading up to it unfortunately,” Portelli said.
“They would have to invite him based on his run there last year.”
The Warwick Farm trainer has also welcomes back Somepin Anypin to his stables ahead of the spring carnival.
The son of Pins won three of his five starts before being spelled after he finished well down the track in the Hobartville Stakes in February.
“He’s been in pre-training at his owners place for about six weeks. He will be back for the end of the Sydney spring and then hopefully into the Melbourne carnival,” Portelli said.
“He is a restricted grade horse and ne needs to earn his stripes to get his rating up so he can get into some of the good races.”
