Gold Trail Leads To Melbourne In July

Gold Trail

Gold Trail will head to Melbourne this month

Gold Trail is a well travelled sprinter and he’ll chalk up a few more kilometres at the end of this month when he heads from Sydney to Melbourne.

His last start was in Brisbane and previous to that he’s run at Ascot in the UK and even in Singapore.

His last win was on the first of January 2010 across the ditch in New Zealand, so the horse will certainly have no issues handling the trip.

The area of most concern is on track, trainer Gary Portelli is desperate to get his gelding back onto the winners list.

To do that he’ll takcle two races, the Sir John Monash Stakes and the Bletchingly Stakes, both held at Caulfield later on in July.

“They both look perfect races for him,” Portelli said.

Gold Trail has only had the single start in the last year after a torn hindquarter muscle kept him out of action for longer than expected.

The injury occurred during his English start, a disappointing trip where he came home 10th of the 12 runners.

“It’s a case of so far so good with him,” Portelli said.

He is a Group 1 winner though, the Railway Stakes at Ellerslie in New Zealand showing just how good he can be.

In Australia he’s also been well performed placing in The Galaxy and the Missile Stakes among others.

He showed decent signs first up at Doomben in the Chief De Beers coming home fourth with a big weight of 60kgs.

Portelli is now trying to advance him a little further but couldn’t get a great read from yesterday’s barrier trial given he faced only two rivals.

“It was disappointing there were only three in the trial because he’s better when there is something going with him,” Portelli said.

“If you hold him up he can’t quicken. He needs to go along at a high cruising speed.”

He still is expected to be highly competitive in both black type events in Melbourne, the first being the $100,000 Sir Monash Stakes over 1100m on July 16 before a two week break leading into the $125,000 Bletchingly Stakes over 1200m.

Nash Rawiller rode him in the barrier trial but Portelli says no jockey has been booked for his rides in Victoria.

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