Young Queen giving Gary Portelli classic vibes

Queen Of Clubs may not be expected to win first-up at Rosehill this weekend, but trainer Gary Portelli is hoping to see signs that the filly is heading in the right direction.

Set to line up in the Schweppes Handicap over 1300m, Portelli is eager to see how the daughter of Maurice handles the step up in trip as she builds towards spring aspirations.

“She shows a lot at home,” Portelli said.

“She has finished off well in her trials and is a get-back, run-on type of horse so we won’t be seeing anything different from her this weekend.

“We will work out one or two starts this campaign then stop, come back for the spring and see if she will end up in any of the classic fillies’ races.

“She is by Maurice so I think she’ll get out to 2000-metres the way she gallops.”

Queen Of Clubs ran in the season-opening Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) and showed improvement before being turned out. A muscle issue disrupted her next prep, but she is now back in full work.

“Where she gets to in the run, I don’t care, as long as I see her really lengthening and for her last furlong to be her best one,” Portelli said.

Barrier five and jockey Ash Morgan will give her every chance to find a rhythm from the back of the field.

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