Portelli banks on brothers being the Berry thing

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday September 25, 2009

John Schell

WARWICK Farm trainer Gary Portelli will use the services of twin apprentices Nathan and Tommy Berry at Saturday's group 1 George Main Stakes meeting at Randwick.While they are unable to use their apprentice claims in group and listed races, Portelli is adamant "they'll get the job done" when riding in races such as the Dulcify Quality, Colin Stephen Quality and The Nivison for the trainer."I'm giving both the boys every opportunity I can," Portelli said on Thursday. "I know their claim helps, but it is not the be all with them. Some kids with three-kilogram claims can sit three wide on a good horse and the claim helps them get home."But, with Nathan and Tommy, they give their horses every chance. They win races because they are good riders."Portelli will start Romanus and Mirrasalo in the Dulcify, with both on their last chance for the spring carnival."Romanus has been struggling for form, whether he needs to be gelded or dropped back in grade remains to be seen," Portelli said. "We are putting the blinkers on him and we will ride him aggressively again. He ran in the Gloaming last weekend and he sat outside the leader but just didn't come on in the straight."The winner [So You Think] came at him at the furlong and he half baulked at him."Portelli said Nathan Berry rode Romanus in all his trackwork and "he knows how to get the best out of the horse"."The original plan was to go to the Spring Champion Stakes but the Dulcify may well be his grand final and then we'll look to the autumn, when I hope he can be my AJC Australian Derby horse."The filly Mirrasalo will also have blinkers applied in the Dulcify, with Tommy Berry taking the ride."She is a staying type like Romanus," Portelli said. "Shaping up as if she will be an AJC Australian Oaks filly in the autumn."Portelli will start Absent Friends in the Colin Stephen Quality, with Nathan Berry in the saddle."Both his runs back from a little let-up after Queensland have been good," Portelli said."Ideally I would have liked to have given him another run before stepping up to the 2400m but that wasn't possible. He's had to go around in this race. He may be one run short, but if he goes well this weekend, then he may back up in The Metropolitan next week."The speedy Allervite will contest the Jim Beam Handicap, in which Nathan Berry can take advantage of his 2kg claim."The horse is in form but he's drawn the car park," Portelli said."But he has the speed to take up a forward position."Portelli will end the day by starting Zarock against the classy Madame Pedrille in The Nivison. Tommy Berry will ride Zarock."With Zarock I'm expecting improvement from her, I think she just needed the run first-up," Portelli said."Whether or not she can beat the favourite [Madame Pedrille] I'm not so sure. But if she was to finish second or third and get some black type next to her name that would be great for her owners."

© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald

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