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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Gary Portelli has two vastly different plans in mind for promising youngster Fireburn but his view that she “has a good race in her” won’t change regardless of the result at Kensington on Saturday.

Trainer Gary Portelli (Pic: Steve Hart)

The daughter of Portelli’s former topliner Rebel Dane chases successive wins in the Ranvet Handicap (1150m), a race that is essentially the fork in the road.

“I think she’s a fantastic spring three-year-old filly for sure that’s why I don’t want to go too far with her,’’ Portelli said.

“If she runs a nice third or fourth I’ll still be over the moon with her because I’ll just tip her out. If she happens to win we might be plotting a different course.”

After Fireburn surged clear to win over 1200m at Randwick on December 18 the trainer was adamant the Golden Slipper isn’t on the radar for her.

That’s still very likely the case, as he feels she’s an ideal Flight Stakes filly for her three-year-old spring, but that different course he speaks of might include a black type throw at the stumps.

He admits coming back 50m isn’t overly ideal but Fireburn is telling him she wants another race.

“It is a little bit of a worry but it was either spell her or race her,’’ he said.

“She pulled up so well I thought I can’t leave her in the paddock. She’s in the Blue Diamond, I’m not sure she’s up to that grade yet but she could get some black type in the fillies lead ups.

“I’ve had enough nice two-year-olds over the years to spot them and get a feel for what’s coming through but she’s been a horse that keeps raising the bar.

“Every time I think she’s going to plateau and maybe train off she goes to another level. Rebel Dane was the same.”

Portelli has a very good handle on where Fireburn might sit given he has the unbeaten colt Sejardan, second favourite for the Golden Slipper, back in work.

The filly, $9 with TAB on Thursday, has the advantage of Tyler Schiller’s 3kg claim for Saturday’s race and with her work during the week Portelli is confident she can hold her form.

Punter’s Intelligence sectional data showed she clocked 34.98 for her last 600m in winning two weeks ago, over two lengths faster than her rivals, and the trainer said she’s all upside.

She had stablemate Vaderzan’s measure in a gallop on Tuesday morning, that horse is likely to be saved for next weekend and is also showing promise, proving to Portelli she’s improved since her win.

“She’s got that real easy action that produces speed,’’ he said.

“A bit like her dad, he never looked he was going anywhere but he’d churn out very fast sectionals.

“Geez I like her. I’m not sure if she is a genuine two-year-old because I think she will come real good at three. There’s a nice race in her.

“She’s still learning what she’s doing. But I love the way she accelerated the other day once he got into her that last 150m.

“Over 1150m, we’ll probably go back on her and hope the track plays on the swooper’s side. She’s in good order and I think she will run well.”

Fireburn wins at Randwick on December 18

Portelli is also using Schiller’s claim on Rebel Shadow who will carry 53.5kg in the Petaluma Handicap (1300m), a race that’s also a fork in the road for the gelding.

The three-year-old missed a place for the first time when he finished sixth at Warwick Farm on December 8, his first start on a good track, and while there were no excuses on paper Portelli said he may have jarred up.

“He had 60kg and I didn’t think he quickened under the weight so that’s why I’ve gone for the claim and we’ve got blinkers on him,’’ he said.

“We had him up a bit close to suit the race but we’ll ride him cold. That will tell us a bit more about where he’s going. I think he’s a pretty handy horse on the soft.”

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