Typhoon Fury will be on trial to convince trainer Gary Portelli he is a Golden Slipper contender when he lines up for his second start at Rosehill today.
Portelli already has Over The Wicket heading towards the A$3.5 million feature and has also paid up for that youngster
in the Rosehill Gardens Grand Pavilion Hcp (1100m) today, but warned the track condition would determine whether he took his place.
Over The Wicket scored a breakthrough win on a slow track at Rosehill last weekend and Portelli said backing him up on a heavily rain-affected surface would be asking too much.
"If the track is upgraded to dead I'd probably look at running him but I don't want to give him two runs on a wet track two weeks in a row," he said.
The race will be the only juvenile event at Rosehill after a lack of numbers prompted the Sydney Turf Club to combine the two original divisions, leaving it with just a seven-race card.
Portelli wasn't fazed by the development, despite the fact his pair will now clash with highly-touted Gai Waterhouse-trained debutante Montana Flyer, an impressive winner of her only two barrier trials.
"I'm happy to take on whatever is there. There is only one way to find out if you've got a good horse," Portelli said.
"I definitely think Typhoon Fury is a Slipper horse but he probably has to win this weekend.
"I really like the way he finishes off. He hit the line hard in his trial and in his race, although he's still got a lot to learn."
Typhoon Fury was a half-head second to Dubai To Sydney at his only start when he was blocked for a run at the top of the straight before getting clear and charging home.
"(Jockey) Jim Cassidy was off and running on Dubai To Sydney while we were getting a check," Portelli said.
"If he'd had clear running I think he would have won quite easily."
Typhoon Fury will be joined at Rosehill by stablemate O'Crikey who will line up in the final race, while Absent Friends will only go around in the Caravan and Camping Supershow Hcp (1300m) if the track is dead or better.
- AAP
