I’m All The Talk faces a monumental task in beating a talented field to the line in this afternoon’s McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley, but trainer Gary Portelli is confident the classy sprinter is in the right form to win the Group 2 race.
Trainer Gary Portelli is pleased with 2015 McEwen Stakes entrant I’m All The Talk. Photo: Steve Hart
I’m All The Talk has claimed only two wins from his fifteen career starts so far but is a proven first-up performer; having produced a great effort to finish a credible sixth in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) to kick off his campaign through the recent Autumn Carnival.
Portelli has been pleased with the benefit taken by the Stratum entire from his time away from racing and is confident his ability to set a good pace from the outset can play to his advantage in the 2015 McEwen Stakes this afternoon.
“He’s been set for this race first-up and I thought there was no need to trial him,” Portelli told AAP.
“He looks a ball of muscle and is ready to run the race of his life.
“Coming out of the gates it will be on, and hopefully the better-performed horses are too far back to catch him.”
I’m All The Talk stamped his claims as a horse to follow through a standout two-year-old campaign during the autumn of 2013; running second in a Warwick Farm minor over 1000m before finishing fourth in the Group 2 Silver Slipper (1100m) and winning the Group 3 Skyline Stakes (1200m) most notably.
Unable to make much of an impact through a short 2013 spring campaign, Portelli elected to keep I’m All The Talk away from racing through the 2014 Autumn Carnival, but saddled the five-year-old to several pleasing results last spring, including a close second behind Terravista in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m).
Progressing to sixth in the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) following his Oakleigh Plate run this year, I’m All The Talk has not been seen at the races since fading late for sixth in the All Victorian Sprint Series Heat (1100m) on May 9th.
Charged with overcoming the likes of Chautauqua, Flamberge and Kuro, I’m All The Talk is currently available at 2015 McEwen Stakes odds of $31 with Ladbrokes Australia.
