Gary Portelli had mixed fortunes at Rosehill with the most expensive truckload of horses he had ever brought to a racetrack.Romanus, a $500,000 yearling, showed his professionalism to win the North Ryde RSL Handicap (1200m) for two-year-olds in which is stablemate Mirrasalo, who cost $700,000 beat just one home.Lighthorseman, a three-year-old who fetched $900,000 in the sale ring, also finished out of the placings with the meeting thrown into some disarray after a flash storm which delayed the f

Gary Portelli had mixed fortunes at Rosehill with the most expensive truckload of horses he had ever brought to a racetrack.

Romanus, a $500,000 yearling, showed his professionalism to win the North Ryde RSL Handicap (1200m) for two-year-olds in which is stablemate Mirrasalo, who cost $700,000 beat just one home.

Lighthorseman, a three-year-old who fetched $900,000 in the sale ring, also finished out of the placings with the meeting thrown into some disarray after a flash storm which delayed the first race and caused a downgrade of the track to heavy.

The ground didn't trouble Romanus, a colt by Encosta De Lago out of 2002 Victorian Oaks winner Bulla Borghese and he beat the erratic Lucy's Cash by a half neck with Fine Drop 1-3/4 lengths third.

"It was a very tradesmanlike performance," Portelli said.

"He took off a long way from home and sustained the run.

"You could say the second horse was unlucky but that's the difference - my bloke did everything right and that's the key to two-year-olds.

"Blake (Shinn) said the filly didn't handle the surface but she also shows promise."

Munce, who rode Bulla Borghese to her classic victory, said there were similarities between the pair.

"I think he will get over ground but he does have a bit more dash than her," Munce said.

"And I don't think he's a wet tracker which made the win even better."

Peter Robl, who rode Lucy's Cash on his first day back from a serious neck injury, agreed with stewards who told him he should have put the whip away when the filly showed she resented it.

Portelli said the major two-year-old races in Brisbane were more likely targets than the Golden Slipper.

"I'm not sure if he's up to that yet," he said.

"I think he is a three-year-old in the making."

Portelli was not too disappointed with Lighthorseman's 2-3/4 length sixth in the All Occasion Cruises Handicap (1100m) won by Empire Place who led all the way.

"He got further back than I would have liked but I thought his run was good and he is better on top of the ground," he said.