Juvenile Alright Already surprised Gary Portelli with his debut victory but the trainer believes it will be no shock to see the colt defeat the much-hyped Manhattan Rain at Rosehill on Saturday.The Gai Waterhouse-trained debutant Manhattan Rain is rated a $19 chance with Betchoice for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper in April.And Waterhouse's confidence about the colt in Saturday's 1100-metre two-year-old handicap was boosted by Real Saga's winning return to racing at Randwick on Saturday.Manhatt
Juvenile Alright Already surprised Gary Portelli with his debut victory but the trainer believes it will be no shock to see the colt defeat the much-hyped Manhattan Rain at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained debutant Manhattan Rain is rated a $19 chance with Betchoice for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper in April.
And Waterhouse's confidence about the colt in Saturday's 1100-metre two-year-old handicap was boosted by Real Saga's winning return to racing at Randwick on Saturday.
Manhattan Rain beat $7.50 Golden Slipper second favourite Real Saga in a 900-metre barrier trial at Rosehill on January 9.
But Alright Already, who cost $70,000 as a yearling, showed Portelli he was ready for a big run on Saturday with an impressive track gallop with stablemate and Golden Slipper hopeful Delago Bolt ($41) at Warwick Farm on Tuesday.
"Every time he was asked a question by Delago he came back at him, and Delago is a handy horse," Portelli said.
"I know Gai has the boom colt in the race but my bloke has the race experience, he's fit and he's an improver so there's no reason he can't win."
Alright Already, who is by More Than Ready out of the Danehill mare Spire, overcame a shocking start to score impressively at his only race start at Gosford over 1000 metres on January 20.
"We weren't overly-confident going into that race on the strength of his barrier trial and his work, so it was a pleasant surprise to see him win," Portelli said.
"We just gave him a run to see how he'd go more than anything and he goes well.
"He was smashed at the start, he got put out the back and followed them on one rein because he wanted to get away from horses on his inside because he is a little bit green still.
"But when the whip was applied in the straight he stormed home, it was very impressive in the end."
Portelli said Alright Already could be aimed towards the Listed Fernhill Handicap (1550m) in April and a possible tilt at the Group One Champagne Stakes (1600m) later that month.
"He gives me the impression those longer trips will really suit him but there's a long way to go yet and we'll get this one out of the way first," Portelli said.