By Ray Hickson If She Will Reign didn’t save Gary Portelli’s training career she certainly rejuvenated it. The fairy tale filly’s story hasn’t just been a tale about a group of battlers with a cheap horse it’s also about the trainer wondering how he could fill a stable. Portelli revealed in the lead up to Saturday’s $10 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick how even a year ago he wondered where he stood in Sydney racing and how much She Will Reign coming along means to him. “I was starting to worry that I was getting pigeonholed and getting squeezed out of the game and I was concerned we were going the wrong way,’’ Portelli said. “Rebel Dane was always there but I didn't have much to back him up. I thought 'once he retires I've got nothing' and I didn't think anything would replace him.’’
Road to The Everest
She Will Reign as a foal with her mum Courgette. #EverestWeek pic.twitter.com/dEizrnXw8K
— Darby Racing (@Darby_Racing) October 9, 2017
It’s been well documented that She Will Reign, a $20,000 purchase, was originally trained by Michael Costa but when he made the move to Queensland the filly stayed in Sydney and was transferred to Portelli. He talks about "sliding doors’’ moments and this was a big one. Then She Will Reign won the Golden Slipper, realising a long held ambition for the trainer who started out in Orange in the central west of NSW, and from six starts has already amassed over $2.8 million. “I was struggling a few years back, I didn't have much quality in the camp,’’ he said. “We picked up a good horse and here we are playing at the elite level. We've had a good year, we won on Magic Millions day with Testashadow, the Slipper and a couple of two-year-old races with Single Bullet and the boxes are now filled. “This game has taken me a long way. I've been lucky enough to have Rebel Dane who took me to Hong Kong, I've been to Royal Ascot with Gold Trail. “We don’t always get the expensive yearlings at the sales, to have one of the best sprinters in Australia goes to show you anyone can own a good horse. “And if she can win The Everest I think she should be ranked the best sprinter in Australia.’’