Sydney, September 28 – Popular Sydney trainer Gary Portelli brought up a two-state metropolitan double for Magic Albert when three-year old filly Maritess scored at Canterbury on Wednesday, following last Saturday’s Caulfield victory by Something Anything.
“They’re the best breed in Australia! At least they have been for me during the past week,” quipped Portelli.
Maritess resumed with an exciting win under top weight of 57kg, finishing with a determined last stride dive to snatch victory in the Class Three event over 1200 metres for three-year old fillies.
“She’s still a bit soft and there is room for improvement, but I think she has her fair share of ability and is certainly above average. If you look at her finishing sectionals in the race yesterday she ran her last 400 metres in 22.5 seconds,” Portelli pointed out.
A $30,000 purchase from the 2005 Magic Millions Yearling Sale by renowned racehorse syndicator Harry Lawton, Maritess has now won three of seven starts earning $58,450.
Maritess was bred and offered for sale by Milburn Creek Thoroughbreds and is the fourth foal of the Full and By mare Positive Flyer, a winning daughter of former outstanding racemare Dinky Flyer, a winner of nine races including the Group One AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2000 metres..
“She’s a big lanky staying type of filly, probably not so much like Magic Albert, but throwing more to her mother’s side.
We’ll run her at Rosehill in a couple of weeks time over 1400 metres and then we’d look at going to Melbourne for races like the Listed Mornmoot Stud Stakes over 1600 metres at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day and possibly the Wakeful Stakes.”
Her stablemate Something Anything is already in Melbourne and made a winning Victorian debut after collecting a cheque in Sydney at each of his five previous runs.
“I bought him at the Inglis Classic Sale for $40,000,” said Portelli.
“I had it in my mind to buy a Magic Albert, but they were making quite a bit of money and then this bloke came in to the ring going berserk, kicking at the rails, going right off. Despite that he was a good type and Vin Cox had seen him earlier and liked him, so we bought him.
He and Maritess are the only Magic Alberts I have in the stable so we’re two for two!”
Yarraman Park based Magic Albert is now a clear second on the second season sires table with eight individual winners (two in New Zealand) and his promising three-year old Magic Jet is an acceptor for Friday night’s Group Two MVRC Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley.
