Trainer Gary Portelli is thankful for the trust shown in his eye for a yearling after Racy emerged as a Magic Millions Classic chance at Warwick Farm.

Portelli revealed Ronstel Thoroughbreds’ Ron Burns urged him go past the value he put on the filly as she went through the Magic Millions sale ring earlier this year.

“The owners gave me a brief. They said buy a two-year-old for the Magic Millions next year,” Portelli said.

“I thought we would get her for $150,000 but it got there pretty quickly and Ron Burns said keep going if you like her.”

The bidding stopped at $180,000 but her purchase price will be irrelevant if she can figure in next month’s $2 million race at the Gold Coast.

“We paid a bit of money for what we pay for in our stable but she’s always shown a lot of ability,” Portelli said.

“She was a bit of a revhead and we’ve done a lot of work to relax her.”

But it wasn’t enough to stop Racy from finding the lead under Josh Parr as she grabbed the bit and beat off her opposition with early speed.

Heavily backed to start favourite, Racy ($4) defeated Look To The Stars by a length in the Pro-Ride Plate (1000m).

For education and insurance against missing a Magic Millions berth, Portelli said he would like to give Racy another start before the January 10 race.

“She had to win today. I just wanted to get today over and done with and sit down and see how she recovers from it and we’ll go from there,” Portelli said.

“If she is going to be winning a decent race I would like to see her come from behind because that’s what we have been doing in trackwork.

“She’s got a massive turn of foot when given a chance.”

Fellow Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride rated Proper Madam’s win in the TAB Rewards Handicap as unexpected.

Proper Madam, the $3.50 favourite, fought out the finish with stablemate Rahy Storm ($3.70) at her second start for Pride.

The former Melbourne-trained mare has been placed up to 2400m, a statistic not lost on her new trainer.

“It’s a bonus win on the way through. She’ll win more,” Pride said.

Article from justhorseracing.com.au