Known to everyone simply as 'Sladey', Slade spent 22 years as secretary/manager of Glen Innes Jockey Club and was a popular figure on northern racetracks.

The 79-year old co-owned several horses with other Glen Innes identities and his biggest thrill came in 2003 when the John Fitzgerald-trained Tahitian Star won the Gold Coast Guineas.

Sladey hosted a Saturday morning sports program on Radio 2NZ for over 30 years which included racing tips and meeting previews, and was hosting a similar program on the Glen Innes community station shortly before his passing.

A passionate sportsman he also gave years of service to lawn bowls, rugby league and the All Schools Sports Carnival.

He is survived by his wife Deirdre, daughter Simone, son Scott and their families and will be farewelled at Glen Innes’ Holy Trinity Church on Friday at 11am.

She Will Reign has meanwhile returned to the stables of Gary Portelli ahead of a campaign geared towards The Everest, Randwick’s $10 million sprint.

The Golden Slipper winner, who Tamworth couple Andrew and Bianca Pieper are part-owners of, had a canter around Warwick Farm on Saturday, and Portelli is thrilled with the way the filly has spelled.

“She has come back a lot stronger and we’re excited to see her back in the camp. She was pretty excited to be back at trackwork this morning too. She was straight back into her normal stable and into the routine,” Portelli said from Randwick after watching Lipizzan run second.

“I feel a bit sorry for her though as she left Warwick Farm as a bog and she has come back with Warwick Farm as a bog!

“Our foreman said she went out looking like a young girl and has come back looking like a young woman.”

“She has an older looking head on her, is stronger through the shoulder and neck and has thighs on her like you wouldn’t believe. She has a massive hindquarter.”

It will be a gradual build up for She Will Reign before tackling The Everest on October 14 second-up after a trip to Melbourne.

“She’ll have two trials in September and then go into the Moir which gives her two weeks into the big one,” Portelli said.

“I’m hoping she has improved her times as much as she has physically because if she has done that she’ll line up against the Chautauquas and what have you and be very competitive.

“You’d imagine she’d carry 51kg pretty easily so we’re looking forward to the next few months.

“I’d be pushing for her to spell again after that and come back for all the big sprints in the autumn without taxing her too much.”

The owners of the $20,000 filly, syndicated by Darby Racing, are enjoying the ride and Portelli wants to guarantee that there is still plenty of petrol in the tank to ensure she races on.

“She had a hard campaign in the Golden Slipper and you have to take that into account. They are only babies and still growing. During the spring as a three-year-old is when they really develop,” Portelli said.

“A horse like her comes around once in a lifetime so we’ve got to make sure we have longevity.”