She Will Reign (Image: Bradley Photos)
Gary Portelli has decided to stick with Melbourne riders for his super filly She Will Reign after announcing on Tuesday that Craig Williams has been chosen to partner the Slipper winner first-up in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at The Valley in September.
Portelli also reported that regular rider Ben Melham is working hard to reduce his weight to 51 kilograms for the $10 million The Everest in October but the trainer said She Will Reign will need a run before the inaugural Randwick feature and the weight-for-age Moir over 1000m was the ideal race despite the fact that Melham cannot ride that light.
"Benny's working hard to get down to 51 but Craig will ride her first-up and then he's there as a back-up if it's impossible for Ben," Portelli said.
As for the filly, Portelli could not be more pleased: "She's 50 kilos heavier than what she was when she won the Slipper. She's now at the right weight, at the right size as she was quite a small, demure little filly when she went into the Slipper off one preparation.
"She's had time to furnish with a 10-week spell and it should be the making of her.
"She's been in work for about a month and is up to doing three-quarter pace over 800 (metres) so we'll probably trial her at the end of August and then have another trial in September before we take her down there."