Gary Portelli is expecting vast improvement from Romanus in the Gloaming Stakes after the colt's poor effort last time out for which the trainer blames himself.The impeccably bred Romanus comes into the Group Three race over 1800 metres at Rosehill on Saturday after beating just two home in the Listed Ming Dynasty (1400m) on September 5.It was his first run since a 21-day freshen-up following his 11th to Denman in the Run To The Rose (1300m) on August 15."He was disappointing. He had three weeks

Gary Portelli is expecting vast improvement from Romanus in the Gloaming Stakes after the colt's poor effort last time out for which the trainer blames himself.

The impeccably bred Romanus comes into the Group Three race over 1800 metres at Rosehill on Saturday after beating just two home in the Listed Ming Dynasty (1400m) on September 5.

It was his first run since a 21-day freshen-up following his 11th to Denman in the Run To The Rose (1300m) on August 15.

"He was disappointing. He had three weeks between runs and I was too easy on him leading up to the race," Portelli said.

"They ran a track record on a rock hard track. He was very underdone.

"But we've since increased his workload and we are looking for a big improvement this week."

By outstanding sire Encosta De Lago out of VRC Oaks winner Bulla Borghese, Romanus was placed in Manhattan Rain's Skyline Stakes during the autumn and wasn't disgraced when fifth to the same colt in the Group One AJC Sires' Produce Stakes.

He finished third to the highly-rated Hus Der Lieften when he resumed in The Rosebud (1200m) earlier this month having had one barrier trial in the lead-up.

"We'll ride him a lot closer to the lead now that we're up in this sort of distance," Portelli said.

Portelli said Romanus would have one more run this campaign after Saturday in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m)

"He'll have a spell after that and we'll bring him back for the autumn and the AJC Derby," Portelli said.

"He's still a bit immature but he's got tons of potential.

"Physically he's not quite there to go past 2000 metres at this stage."

Portelli said stablemate Gold Trail was in good shape ahead of the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m).

He is coming off a fourth to Friday Creek in the Group Three Concorde Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on August 29.

Jockey Corey Brown told Portelli after the race that being three-wide without cover into a strong wind knocked the stuffing out of the horse.

"He thought the horse ran well but said the wind was the factor," Portelli said.

"He's down to 53.5kg and realistically he's well-weighted and gets his chance."

Two starts back, Gold Trail was overhauled by Teasing in the Group Three Missile Stakes (1100m) on August 1.

Gold Trail is Group One placed after he finished third to Nicconi in The Galaxy.

The five-year-old Hussonet gelding scored his biggest win in the Listed Canterbury Classic (1100m) in January.

Apprentice Daniel Ganderton was booked to ride both Romanus and Gold Trail but will not ride at Rosehill after suffering a broken leg in a fall at Newcastle on Thursday.

Stewards granted permission to allow senior riders to replace Ganderton as most races are non-claiming events.

Chris Munce takes over on Romanus and Glyn Schofield will steer Gold Trail.

Ganderton was injured when the Bart Cummings trained Valhero stumbled in a maiden handicap and the jockey came off.

He is expected to be out of action for around seven weeks.