She Will Reign takes on ‘first grade’ in Valley sprint shootout

GARY Portelli has assessed his Golden Slipper-winning filly She Will Reign as vulnerable in Friday night’s Moir Stakes.

GARY Portelli has assessed his Golden Slipper-winning filly She Will Reign as vulnerable in Friday night’s Moir Stakes.

RACE WATCH: DAVO’S RANDWICK TIPS

HOT TIPS: WEEKEND BEST BETS

THE EARLY OIL: MOONEE VALLEY

“Because she’s a Golden Slipper winner she’s the hype horse but she’s a couple of points shorter in the betting than what she should be,” Portelli said.

“This is a big step up. It’s like going from the under 18s into the first grade. She’s only ever raced against two-year-olds and now she’s against the older horses.”

She Will Reign opened at $3.30 with TAB and has drifted to $3.90.

“Everything is different for her. There are some very quick horses and this is a stronger race than what she’s ever faced.

“She’s good enough to win for sure but she’ll need to put everything together.”

Portelli said She Will Reign’s main assignment was The Everest in two weeks time.

She Will Reign will be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy on Friday night.

Portelli said She Will Reign had put on 40kg since her two-year-old days and had a long build up having been in work for 120 days.

Portelli is looking forward to She Will Reign running on a firm track for only the second time in her career as the only other time was at her debut on a firm track which she won by eight lengths at Kembla Grange.

“I always maintained that she gets through the wet tracks but she’s so much faster on a good track,” he said.

Jockey Ben Melham sticks his tongue out to the crowd as he and She Will Reign take out this year’s Golden Slipper. Picture: AAP

Sweet taste of success?

BRENT Stanley knows he’s throwing Sweet Sherry in the deep end in the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night but believes she’s never been in better shape.

Sweet Sherry is quoted at $35 and is facing horses of the calibre of Russian Revolution ($2.90 fav), Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign ($3.80) and Sheidel ($6.50) but Stanley believes she’s up to it.

“This is the preparation where we can find out whether she’s a Group 1 sprinter which is what I think she is,” Stanley said.

Stanley said this was the first preparation Sweet Sherry had had where she didn’t have a problem.

“Every time I’ve had her in work she’s had illness or injury but this time she hasn’t had a problem. She’s never gone better.”