Rich lineage pressures Still Reigning to rule on debut
Her siblings have already set the bar high, but trainer Gary Portelli hopes Still Reigning can emulate them with a win on debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
The two-year-old is the half-sister of She Will Reign, the 2017 Golden Slipper-winner who triumphed on debut at Kembla Grange, and full sister of Time To Reign, who galloped to victory at Randwick on his first start before claiming the 2019 Silver Slipper three starts later.
Still Reigning's half-sister She Will Reign won the Golden Slipper in 2017.Credit:AAP
The performances warranted Still Reigning's owners paying $800,000 for the filly at Easter last year, a sum high enough to mean instant expectation when she steps out in the All Too Hard @ Vinery Handicap (1100m).
Portelli is adamant his purchase has more than her share of ability, he's just not sure she has the temperament that allowed She Will Reign and Time To Reign, that allowed both to race before Christmas.
“They either cope with being a two-year-old or they don’t, and she was a bit backwards compared to the other two I’ve had, a little later maturing side,’’ Portelli said. “While we were hoping she’d go early she was a bit on the baby side.
“I’m fairly hopeful we have a good class filly. I don’t know what we’ve got yet because you have to see them under race pressure. I know she has good gate speed and she’s more relaxed this time through.’’
Courgette, the dam of Still Reigning, has had four foals go to auction and at $800,000 this filly is clearly the most expensive – She Will Reign cost just $20,000 and won more than $3 million. Her second foal Rosina Kojonup was a $425,000 buy while Time To Reign sold for $325,000.
The filly drew barrier one for her debut at Warwick Farm and Jason Collett, who won the Silver Slipper on Time To Reign, rides. Portelli said the plan is to make full use of that barrier, and hopes she performs to a level that warrants heading to the Listed Woodlands Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on May 16.
“From barrier one, with the speed she has," he said. "She will just take up the lead and hopefully she has the gears her brother and sister have got late."
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