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By Ray Hickson

On paper it looks like a soft launch for promising three-year-old Royalzel’s spring program and but trainer Gary Portelli says Saturday’s $100,000 Midway Handicap (1300m) at Kembla Grange can't be taken for granted.

Trainer Gary Portelli (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Royalzel has been the surprise packet of the Portelli stable this year winning three of his five starts and announcing himself with a Listed win in July as a horse with carnival potential.

So why is he kicking off under the Midway restrictions when the traditional path for an emerging three-year-old would be a race like the Ming Dynasty?

It was basically an irresistible option though the Warwick Farm trainer felt a little guilty because stablemates Exceltic and Lord Zoulander would otherwise be considered perfectly placed too.

“As soon as I saw this Midway race I thought this is the race to resume in,’’ Portelli said.

“I had mixed emotions because I have two other horses in the race that are going particularly well. I’ve been setting the other two for Midway races.

“This bloke comes out of Group company, beats the handicapper with the three-year-old allowance, you get James (McDonald) on, it’s the whole kit and caboodle.

“I’m not saying he’s over the line but it certainly looks good.”

The colt didn’t strike Portelli as anything out of the ordinary. He describes Royalzel as a ‘neat horse’, he weighs around 460kg but there’s more under the hood than meets the eye.

It was apparent to jockey Tommy Berry after his debut unplaced effort and even moreso when he scored a runaway maiden win at Kembla in May. Dominant performances at Rosehill and Flemington at his last two appearances have Portelli wondering what the limits are.

“This weekend is going to tell us a lot. He doesn’t come out at trackwork every morning and say 'I’m a good horse',’’ Portelli said.

“Out of all the two-year-olds I won with this year he was the least expected based on his immaturity. He’s been a revelation.

“The bar keeps rising and he keeps jumping it and leaping it quite comfortably. He’s got a machine that we can’t see.

“That’s one thing about buying horses, you just don’t know what’s in between those two shoulder blades.”

Royalzel, $2.10 favourite with TAB on Thursday, has recorded all three wins on wet tracks so the conditions at Kembla don’t concern Portelli.

He spent two weeks in the paddock after his Flemington win and trialled in the same heat as TAB Everest hopefuls Eduardo and Gytrash last week where his late closing fourth was more than enough to please the trainer.

“He went really well, he had to be ridden along to make his finish but I would have expected that because he’s not sharp enough to keep up with Gytrash late,’’ he said.

“He went through his gears nicely and went through the line well and had a good blow.”

While all eyes will be on how Royalzel performs, given he could easily find himself in Group 1 races later in the spring, Portelli said it’s not all about one horse and is adamant Exceltic ($5) and Lord Zoulander ($11) can be competitive.

Royalzel runs fourth in a Warwick Farm trial on August 17

The former clocked a sizzling 32.91 for his last 600m (Punter’s Intelligence) in a slashing fourth in a Midway at Kembla two weeks ago finishing just ahead of the latter who is a lot more effective on wet ground.

“Exceltic flew home last start on a hard track to make up ground on. He’ll be back somewhere and working his way through his gears late,’’ Portelli said.

“Lord Zoulander, we saw what he did three starts back on a heavy track at Randwick. If he jumps well he’ll be up there.”

Meanwhile, Portelli said if Kembla can sneak back into the soft range he’d be confident Above And Beyond can bounce back to form in the ATC Thank You Owners Handicap (1600m).

The gelding beat just one home behind Matowatakpe at Randwick three weeks ago but his first-up effort on a soft track said he’d come back in good order.

“He didn’t stretch out on the firm track and he needs an improving track,’’ he said.

“If it gets into the soft range he’ll be a chance.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Kembla Grange meeting