Portelli’s improving three-year-old colt So Rebellious lines up in the Midway Handicap (1600m) while two-year-old gelding Rebel Shield is entered for the opener, the Elite Sand And Soil Handicap (1400m).
In an era where $1 million-plus yearlings are commonplace, Portelli only had to go to $30,000 to purchase So Rebellious and just $40,000 to secure Rebel Shield as yearlings.
They are both by Rebel Dane, the talented sprinter Portelli trained to win twice at Group 1 level in the Manikato Stakes and Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
Rebel Dane stands at famous Widden Stud in the Hunter Valley and Portelli has trained the best of the stallion’s progeny so far, the outstanding Fireburn who won the 2022 Golden Slipper.
So Rebellious, a winner of a Canterbury maiden from his 11 starts, resumed with an eighth to Tarzing at Rosehill late last month, a run that Portelli maintains is a lot better than it reads on paper.
“This horse has come on leaps and bounds since his last campaign,” Portelli told Racing And Sports.
“I thought it was a really nice run first-up and I expect him to run a hell of a race on Saturday.”
So Rebellious might be over the odds in early TAB Fixed Odds betting on the Midway at $16 behind Perfect Justice, the $4.40 favourite.
Rebel Shield made his debut at the Warwick Farm midweekers late last month and worked home nicely to finish fourth to boom colt Omolong over 1100m.
Omolong has since franked the form by winning at Rosehill in Saturday grade and is already being spoken about as a possible Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes contender during the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington during spring.
Portelli holds Rebel Sieuld in high regard ahead of Randwick where he’s rated at $10 in early betting behind $3.70 equal favourites Rumdabar and Defensemen.
“I like him a lot,” Portelli said of Rebel Shied. “He has a good finish on him and going to 1400m is absolutely perfect for him.”
Portelli is expecting an improved performance from the stable’s other Randwick runner, Kintyre ($26) in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap[(1400m).
Kintyre, a half-brother to Fireburn, hasn’t been sighted in three runs back this preparation but has trialled well since finishing down the track at Randwick last start.
