Trainer Gary Portelli will make a memorable start to the new year when he saddles up his first international runner.The Warwick Farm horseman will start the speedy Gold Trail in the Group One Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie in Auckland on January 1 and he hopes it will be the first of many overseas trips."It's good because the trip is only minimal in distance, it's not a big one, but hopefully one day I can get a horse good enough to take to Hong Kong or Dubai," Portelli said."It will be goo

Trainer Gary Portelli will make a memorable start to the new year when he saddles up his first international runner.

The Warwick Farm horseman will start the speedy Gold Trail in the Group One Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie in Auckland on January 1 and he hopes it will be the first of many overseas trips.

"It's good because the trip is only minimal in distance, it's not a big one, but hopefully one day I can get a horse good enough to take to Hong Kong or Dubai," Portelli said.

"It will be good to get a feel for what happens when you travel a horse and should be a great experience."

Gold Trail arrived in New Zealand last Tuesday and was accompanied by Portelli's Melbourne stable foreman.

Portelli will fly over on Thursday and says all the reports he has received so far have been positive.

"It's all sweet, he's settled in beautifully," Portelli said.

"If he was a really top horse he is the sort of horse you could really travel the world with. Nothing fazes him."

Gold Trail isn't far from the top bracket of sprinters in Australia and finished third to Nicconi in the Group One Galaxy at Randwick during the autumn carnival.

He was a brilliant winner of the Group Two Shorts (1100m) at the same venue in October when he beat Fritz's Princess by four lengths, relegating triple Group One winner Sniper's Bullet to third.

He has not raced since then but has been prepared for the New Zealand assignment with three barrier trial wins, the latest over 1200 metres at Warwick Farm on December 14.

If Gold Trail is competitive in the Railway he will remain in New Zealand for the Group One Telegraph Hcp (1200m) on January 23.

Portelli, who won the opening race at Randwick on Saturday with Magic Millions-bound two-year-old Triple Crown, is also hoping to play a hand in the Group One races in the Sydney autumn.

Heading his carnival team will be stakes winner Delago Bolt and emerging staying filly Mirrasalo.

Delgo Bolt won the Black Opal Stakes as a juvenile and was third to Tickets in the Listed Doncaster Stakes at Flemington during the spring.

Mirrasalo has just one win from seven starts but was an eye-catching fourth to subsequent Victoria Derby placegetter Viking Legend in the Dulcify Quality (1800m).

"She's coming back for the Oaks," Portelli said.

"I've no doubt she will come into her own once she gets up to 2400 metres and we've won an Oaks before with Rena's Lady.

"I'm also hoping some of the two-year-olds I've got in work now are going to step up."