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By Ray Hickson

Breeders’ Plate winner Sejardan will confirm himself as a genuine Golden Slipper contender if he’s able to overcome a draw that’s giving trainer Gary Portelli nightmares at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Gary Portelli (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Much to the trainer's horror, the colt drew the outside barrier in the $1m Inglis Rural Property Golden Gift (1100m) and on paper it appears as though Jason Collett is going to have to produce the ride of his life to get the job done.

Sejardan did give them a start and a beating off an outside gate on debut in the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate but Portelli said drawing wide at the Randwick 1000m and Rosehill 1100m are completely different scenarios.

“It’s one of those situations where you think ‘that’s crap’ but when you sit down and analyse it’s even worse. I wasn’t happy,’’ Portelli said.

“If he drew five you’re midfield, you draw 12 you’re last or dictated to. There’s every chance if you try to ride smart and get in you might get trapped three deep and at Rosehill it’s diabolical over 1100m.

“You’re better off to go back, save some ground, and come through like we did when we won.”

There might be a silver lining yet, though.

A little rain around should ensure Rosehill doesn’t play as fast as it did for the Golden Eagle meeting last weekend and even up the playing field, or advantage those getting to the outside.

That all remains to be seen but regardless of the task, Portelli wants to leave Rosehill able to make plans for the now $5 million Golden Slipper in March.

“This is a fair test for him now and if he was to beat these horses we’ve certainly got the real deal,’’ he said.

“If he runs in the top three we’re in pole position, all we’ve got to do is turn up in good order next year. Now the (Slipper) is worth $5 million it’s certainly worth winning.

“When they’re getting close to the race if he starts to shorten I’ll get more confident because the market will tell us how the track is playing.”

Sejardan was $5 with TAB on Thursday in the Golden Gift and Jason Collett rides him again.

There’s a real sense that Portelli believes he has another Slipper contender on his hands, of course he won the 2017 edition with She Will Reign, given the performance he put up to win a race that is usually a reliable guide.

“If you go through the history most of the Breeders’ Plates over the years you wouldn’t have seen a horse that’s done what he did during the race,’’ he said.

“Most have been up on the pace, kicking away, just the fastest horse in the race.

“This bloke showed he was strong late. Does that mean the quality of horse he beat was ordinary? I think we get to find out on the weekend.”

It’s been six weeks since the Breeders’ Plate and Portelli said he planned a good program to keep the colt fit including some work between races at Canterbury last week, where he was able to sweat and burn some nervous energy, and worked well on Tuesday morning.

Interestingly, stablemate Snitcat seems to have Sejardan’s measure on the training track.

Portelli said the filly has her share of ability and having drawn ideally in two will have her chance to back up a game effort to run third in the Kirkham Plate.

Sejardan wins the Breeders' Plate at Randwick on October 2

“The colt and the filly work together and the filly beats him every time. But that’s not from a standing start,’’ he said.

“While she’s handy what we saw in the Breeders’ is hopefully something special so we’re excited about the weekend.”

Snitcat debuted in the Gimcrack Stakes on October 2 and finished in the second half but was able to settle better than midfield last start and she ran on well to be beaten a length by Ojai.

Golden Gift favourite Shalatin was behind her in fifth place and she’s been kept safe at $14 with TAB.

“She didn’t have a lot of luck at her first run and at her second run she was flushed out,’’ he said.

“A couple of the horses that will be hard to beat in the race are out of that form race.

“She’s honest and she’s drawn a good gate to get every chance, she’s a top five chance for sure.”

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