Disruptor Back On Track For Another Comeback

Disruptor has defied the odds to complete a second comeback from serious tendon injury in the Darley 2021 Roster Handicap (1000m) at Warwick Farm.

The promising sprinter first broke down during winter two years ago soon after winning a late season juvenile race.

Trainer Gary Portelli patiently prepared Disruptor for a racetrack return in April last year and the gelding duly won first-up only to suffer a recurrence of the tendon problem.

“Disruptor has bowed the same tendon twice,’’ Portelli revealed.

“But I’ve got a treadmill in the stables now and it is perfect for a horse with a tendon issue.

“It’s been good work by my team to get this horse back to the races again.’’

Disruptor’s two wins have both been on his home track at Warwick Farm and he resumes over 1000m on Wednesday.

“His barrier trial was really good,’’ Portelli said of Disruptor’s second behind Exotic Ruby at Hawkesbury last week.

“But he has drawn awkwardly (barrier seven) for a 1000m race which is a bit of a worry for me.’’

Portelli is also sending Capital Reign back to the races for the Robrick Lodge Handicap (1100m) after the two-year-old gelding made a spectacular but wayward winning debut at Canberra earlier this month.

Capital Reign was going to win by a huge margin until he suddenly veered out forcing his jockey to stop riding and straighten his mount. The youngster was still able to score by nearly three lengths.

“I think what happened at Canberra was a bit of a one-off,’’ Portelli said.

“I’ve never seen him do anything like that before, he seemed to get lost out in front.’’

Portelli then sent the son of boom first season stallion Capitalist (sire of Captivant, Profiteer) back to the barrier trials where he romped home by nearly eight lengths on Warwick Farm’s synthetic track in a stunning display of sustained speed, recording a flying 42.85s for the 740m.

“He did everything right and went two seconds faster than anything else on the day,’’ Portelli said.