Wedding bells and winning hopes for Portelli

Gary Portelli will not be at Randwick on Saturday, with good reason, but will take time out of a big day to watch Flying Trapeze.

Portelli is due to get married to his sweetheart Renae in Berrima at 4pm, but before they sign the papers to make it official, there will be time to watch a race from Randwick.

“I’m going to be a winner before that race, but I know the phones will be out to watch Flying Trapeze because Renae loves that horse,” Portelli said.

“We can sign the papers after the race, and hopefully, we are celebrating a little more.”

“It’s going to be a big day and a winner or two would make it better.”

“We have Nutbush Dancer, which Renae named, having its first run at Kembla and it has drawn well and will run well.”

“Tenderize came out and won a trial the other day at Hawkesbury, but he is a funny horse,” Portelli said

“He is a horse that needs a run to get to his peak and this fits in well to run in the Syndicate race up at the Gold Coast.”

“Flying Trapeze is going well and hasn’t been in this type of grade for a while. He can run a cheeky race with the blinkers on.”

Portelli will debut Godolphin filly Tatiana in the two-year-old Maiden, which opens the afternoon at Randwick.

She has also won a recent barrier trial on Polytrack, but Portelli admits he is testing the waters over 1000m.

“She is a nice strong filly, but I think she is going to better when she gets to 1200m,” he said.

“She has got good ability and won that trial, but I think this experience is going to help her.”