The juvenile season is still in its infancy, but trainer Gary Portelli is confident he has a genuine contender for the Golden Slipper in unbeaten colt Sejardan.
The youngster was given a break after securing his place in the world’s richest two-year-old race when he followed a debut win in the Breeders’ Plate with victory in the $1 million Golden Gift.
He has recently returned to work to be prepared for an autumn carnival campaign and Portelli is delighted with his progression.
“He went up to three-quarter pace (Saturday) and I had goosebumps,” Portelli said.
“He is a monster of a mover.
“If you want to frame up a horse as to how they should carry themselves when they move, it is him. He is such a nice mover.”
Sejardan is being aimed towards a return in the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Randwick on February 5 before tackling the Todman Stakes (1200m) a month later and the Golden Slipper (1200m) third-up on March 19.
It is a formula not dissimilar to the one Portelli used with his 2017 Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign.
She Will Reign also won her two starts before Christmas and was given a brace of runs leading into the grand finale, winning the Silver Slipper and finishing second in the Reisling Stakes.
However, where She Will Reign went straight to the paddock after her Slipper triumph, Sejardan could continue through the juvenile triple crown.
“I’m looking at the Sires’ and Champagne Stakes with him – we will have a crack at all three,” Portelli said.
“I think he is top shelf.
“He does things that good horses do and he does it without even trying.
“That’s the difference between the ones you need to push out to run times, or horses like him that can run time easily.”
Sejardan is on the second line of TAB fixed odds Slipper markets at $9 with Gimcrack Stakes winner Coolangatta a $4.50 favourite