Gary Portelli is not yet sure of the feature races he will target with I’m All The Talk this Spring, but what he is set on is starting the gifted colt’s campaign in Melbourne.
The Sydney trainer revealed on Wednesday that he had identified the $120,000 Listed Vain Stakes at Caulfield as the first-up option for the son of Stratum.
I’m All The Talk hasn’t started since the Golden Slipper and Portelli said he returned from his spell more mature, both physically and mentally, and he would be primed to run a big race in the Vain Stakes.
“That looks a nice race for him,” Portelli said of the 1100-metre event, which will be run on Saturday 17 August.
“He can be a little bit vulnerable first up, so I want to have him fit for a first up attack down there and maybe even get him down there a little bit early and give him a look at Caulfield.”
I’m All The Talk – who started his career as All The Talk before undergoing a name change before the Slipper – was one of the top male juvenile performers of the Sydney Autumn.
Although he could manage only 10th in the world’s richest two-year-old race, a start earlier he streeted his rivals by 3.5 lengths in the Group 3 Skyline Stakes (1200m).
Portelli was thrilled with how I’m All The Talk did during his break and said will be kept to sprinting.
“He’s just a big, powerful colt and he’s got it all ahead of him,” Portelli said.
“He was a younger two-year-old, he was a real playful, amorous sort of a horse and he wasn’t concentrating, but now he’s come back you can see the big difference. He knows what he’s here for.
“The way he went at Warwick Farm, when he won the Skyline by four, shows that he’s got the potential to win a good race.
“We’ll just sit down and work out a program after he run in the Vain Stakes. We’ll work out which is the best way to go based on how his performance is.”
Portelli has numerous feature options for I’m All The Talk in Melbourne during Spring, starting with the $220,000 Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on 7 September, continuing right through until the $500,000 Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on 2 November.
I’m All The Talk is a chance to be accompanied to Melbourne by well-performed stablemate Rebel Dane.
Portelli is considering sprints in both Melbourne and Sydney for the rising four-year-old, who pushed champion colt Pierro to a head in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes in March.
“He went out weighing 440 kilos and he came back weighing 480 and since he’s been in he’s actually gone up to 488,” Portelli said. “He’s really, really well and his trackwork’s been great.
“Last preparation showed he won’t get further than 1400, so we’re going to take it one run at a time. Being the sort of horse that does lighten off, we can space his runs, which I think that will be good for him.
Rebel Dane may be seen at the trials as early as next Friday, with Portelli eyeing a Warwick farm hit out for the son of California Dane.
Source : Racing Victoria
