Gary Portelli has a live chance in next Saturday's $175,000 Villiers Stakes after New Day Rising scored a classy win in the De Bortoli Wines Welter at Rosehill on Saturday.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Ridden by promising apprentice Chad Schofield, New Day Rising jumped well from the widest barrier and with plenty of assistance from Schofield landed one off the fence with a perfect trail into the race.
Outsider Strumming led the favourite Scarf while Schofield gave New Day Rising the run of the race in fourth to the turn.
Scarf momentarily reached the lead but was quickly under pressure as New Day Rising loomed quickly to challenge the favourite.
Passing the 300m New Day Rising kicked clear then did well to hold off Tromso and Kontiki Park to score a strong win in an impressive trial for the Villiers over 1600m at Warwick Farm.
He scored by a length from Tromso with a nose to Kontiki Park third while Scarf faded to finish a disappointing fourth.
"I have to give credit to my brother in Melbourne. He has had the horse from the spell right up until he ran fourth at Flemington behind Under the Eiffel which is tremendous form," Portelli said.
"He is the one that got the horse back, I have just had to go on with it. Basically he is an easy horse to train and hopefully even easier for the rest of the week.
"I think he can string a few together, he is very sound at the moment and an absolute brilliant horse to have in the stable. Anyone could ride him.
"Definitely the Villiers, that was the Grand Final from when we got the horse and we are obviously right on track."
Schofield said the riding plan mapped out with Portelli worked out perfectly.
"We couldn't have asked for a better run early," Schofield said.
"We drew the widest gate and the plan was to go forward but there was too many horses so we just came back.
"We ended up getting a beautiful run following the favourite who brought us right into the straight."
