Rain predicted ahead of Rosehill meeting

Trainer Gary Portelli will run Dio D’Oro at Rosehill if the predicted rain comes.

Like everyone in NSW, trainer Gary Portelli wants to see rain and hopes the forecast for the rest of the week is correct.

If the predicted wet weather eventuates on Thursday and Friday, it will also be a bonus for the Portelli-trained Dio D’Oro at Rosehill on Saturday.

“We need rain obviously to help with the fires so hopefully we get as much as they say we will,” Portelli said.

“If it looks like we are going to be on a rain-affected track, Dio D’Oro will love that so he will run at Rosehill rather than Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

“If it is wet. Ronstar will wait for another day.”

Dio D’Oro is one of 11 entries for the Benchmark 78 over 1200m which include Ronstar who is also nominated over 1350m in the same grade.

Dio D’oro will be ridden by visiting English jockey Tom Marquand who racked up a double at Randwick on Saturday.

“Tom is riding well so we are pleased to have him,” Portelli said.

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Portelli is also looking forward to the return of Silver Slipper winner Time To Reign who runs in the Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington on Saturday after missing the spring when he developed a virus.

The trainer has spent the past week on the Gold Coast for the annual Magic Millions yearling sale and race day.

Stable favourite Testashadow ran third in Saturday’s Magic Millions Quality (1800m) with his $22,500 prize money taking the eight-year-old’s earnings past $1.5 million.

“He is just a marvel – completely sound and tough,” Portelli said.

“It was his fifth time to the Magic Millions. It would be nice to have more like him.”

There may be one among the 10 horses that will make their way to Portelli’s Warwick Farm stable from the sale.

“I bought two myself and I have ten to train from the sale,” he said.

“It was a strong sale and I am pleased with the horses we have.”