When trainer Gary Portelli took out the $350,000 Inglis Bracelet at Flemington on Oaks day with Verona Rose, he didn’t expect to be seeing the runner-up against one of his maidens.
The Warwick Farm-based conditioner heads to Wednesday’s Canterbury meeting with 99 winners at the track but he’s almost certain he won’t be raising the bat in the opener with his galloper Babyfaced Assassin in the 1900m race.
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Portelli conceded Babyfaced Assassin will be no match for Sweltering and that he was gobsmacked when he saw Chris Waller’s horse among the acceptances.
The daughter of Too Darn Hot might hold the tag of Australia’s best maiden with a Group 1 placing in the Australasian Oaks earlier this year along with her runner-up finish to Portelli’s stable star during Cup Week.
It’s a successful trip south for Verona Rose as she makes it four career wins at her 11th start in the Inglis Bracelet. pic.twitter.com/fy8KEwuMvZ
— Ladbrokes Australia (@ladbrokescomau) November 6, 2025
“He’s an improving type that has started to work it out but he can’t beat this favourite,” Portelli said.
“I can’t believe we’ve run into this in a 1900m maiden at Canterbury … It’s just ridiculous.
“But that’s what you get when you’ve got a powerful stable like Waller’s, they can put them where they want, but I’m not sure if I owned it that I’d be going around in a 1900m maiden – I’d be aiming up.
And while Portelli admits the rest of the field is running for second, he’s still expecting his son of I Am Invincible to be running well.
“We’re all running for second, so I don’t think we’ll be breaking the century in that race but I’m expecting him to run well.”
Sweltering opened at Winx odds as the $1.18 favourite with Babyfaced Assassin at $17.
Trainer Gary Portelli with Verona Rose following her Inglis Bracelet win. Picture: Getty Images
A few races later Portelli will seek that ton with Mother Goose in the fourth race and it’s a scenario that he never thought was even possible.
Said scenario isn’t training 100 winners at Canterbury, but the 100th coming for powerhouse breeding operation, Godolphin.
Portelli now trains numerous horses for Godolphin and Mother Goose is looking to break through for him at start two in the new surroundings.
“It would be lovely to break my ton training a Godolphin horse,” Portelli said.
“That would have been something I never, ever put into any sort of script that I’d be training a Godolphin horse to win my 100th race at Canterbury.
“But she’s (Mother Goose) very well placed in that race and has come on from her first-up run.
“Just ran out of puff the other day and I think she was beaten by a pretty smart one in Matt Smith’s horse.
“Tommy (Berry) has a good opinion of her and they ran good time in that race so I’m expecting her to be hard to beat there.”
Mother Goose was installed as a $5 chance when markets opened with Brad Widdup’s mare, Tequila Baby, the $4.20 top pick in betting.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned Verona Rose is in the paddock as the stable gears up for an autumn that hopefully culminates in a Group 1 victory.
“She was sent straight to the paddock after her last start victory and is going super,” Portelli said.
“We’ll let the dust settle for a bit but we’ve got our sights set on the autumn with a race like the Coolmore potentially being what we aim at.
“To get a Group 1 win or placing on the resume would be huge for her and all the owners.”
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Twinkling Star can show city sparkle
Trainer Matthew Vella only has a few horses in work but he’ll be looking to build on an impressive strike rate when he heads to Wednesday’s Canterbury meeting.
Vella has had seven starters this season for two winners and three placings and a good portion of that is thanks to rising talent Twinkling Star.
The daughter of Zoustar was sent to Vella’s stable after starting with Michael Freedman and the Hawkesbury-based conditioner has done a super job with her, reeling off two wins from three starts.
All three of those have come at her new home track but Vella will head into the city on Wednesday in search of a metropolitan win in the fourth race at Canterbury.
Vella admits it’s no easy task with the rise to midweek level but thinks Twinkling Star gets there at the right stage of her campaign and is confident she won’t disgrace herself.
“She’s going really well and the obvious next step for a horse like her is to go to town,” Vella said.
“It’s so important with these horses to get that city quality on their page so that’s what we’re there to have a crack at.
“It’s never easy taking the step up and heading into town but she’s going well and I’m sure she will give her all.”
Twinkling Star gets to Wednesday’s Ole Kirk @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1200m) off a five week freshen up and also rises to 1200m for the first time since switching stables.
It’s the main query Vella has about his mare but he also admits that she will likely get every chance to run it out.
“I’m not sure if the trip will suit her but she should get her chance to see it out,” Vella said.
“It looks like she’ll land in the perfect spot so hopefully all will go well.”
Bookmakers opened up at $7 for Twinkling Star and it’s a race restricted for mares only.
Tequila Baby, also trained out at Hawkesbury, was installed as the $4.20 favourite when markets opened.
Godolphin’s Mother Goose ($5) and Joe Pride’s Indefensible ($6) are the only other two runners ahead of Twinkling Star in betting.