Unbeaten Castelvecchio Filly wins G3 Kembla Classic

Tara Madgwick - Friday March 14

The $250,000 Group III Kembla Grange Classic (1600m on Friday drew an outstanding field of up and coming fillies and while Castelvecchio is without his Group I winning colt El Castello this autumn, he might have a very good replacement in the shape of Verona Rose, who kept her unbeaten record intact with a barnstorming win.

Verona Rose wins the G3 Kembla Classic - image Bradley Photography

Trained by Gary Portelli and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Verona Rose won a maiden at Kembla last November and then won first up from a spell at wyong last month before stepping up for her first Black type assignment.

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She settled back in the field and charged home late to beat a wall of fillies scoring by a neck over Inevitable Truth (Fastnet Rock) and Brigidine Gal (Al Maher) with race favourite Dominetta a close fourth.

A modest $40,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Arrowfield Stud for her trainer Gary Portelli, Verona Rose was purchased as an Oaks filly and that is exactly where Portelli is heading with the filly, who has banked $195,200 for her big group of owners.

So many happy owners for Verona Rose - image Bradley Photography

“I thought and hoped she was that good, but you don’t know until you try them,” said Portelli.

“For her to pick those horses up at just her third start and win going away was impressive.

“She’ll go to the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes in two weeks and then another two week to the Oaks, you might have just seen the Oaks winner!

“I bought her to be an Oaks filly and have always told the owners to be patient.”

Verona Rose is the fourth SW for Castelvecchio - image Bradly Photography

Verona Rose was bred and sold by Arrowfield and is the second winner from three to race from the Aga Khan bred Minamya (Fr), a winning half-sister by Makfi to staying stakes-winner Mila from Group III winning stayer Minatlya from the family of triple Aussie Group I winning import Manighar (Fr).

Minamya has no yearling for the sales this year, but produced a colt by Hitotus last spring before going back to Castelvecchio.

Verona Rose is the fourth stakes-winner for Dundeel’s dual Group I winning son Castelvecchio.

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Race Result - Carlton Dry 3.5 Kembla Grange Classic Gr3 1600m

Kembla Grange Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:35.75
1
Verona Rose
- 3f Castelvecchio (AUS) x Minamya (FR) (Makfi (GB))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54
2
0.2
Inevitable Truth
- 3f Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Scarletini (AUS) (Bernardini (USA))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Tyler Schiller 54
Fastnet Rock
3
0.4
Brigidine Gal
- 3f Al Maher (AUS) x Randwick Bound (AUS) (Beautiful Crown (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Regan Bayliss 54
4
0.6
Dominetta
- 3f Zoustar (AUS) x Debonnaire (GB) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Rachel King 54
5
0.8
Canny Queen
- 3f Ace High (AUS) x Quella Finale (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: Brad Widdup Rdr: Reece Jones 54
6
1.3
Sun 'N' Sand
- 3f Pride Of Dubai (AUS) x She's A Rainbow (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: B Joseph & P & M Jones Rdr: Tom Sherry 54.5
7
1.5
You Wahng
- 3f So You Think (NZ) x Wahng Wah (AUS) (Casino Prince (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Tommy Berry 55
8
4
Kaffir Lily
- 3f Kermadec (NZ) x Ransom Rose (AUS) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: A B Collett 54
9
4.1
Atomic Clock
- 3f The Autumn Sun (AUS) x Time Check (USA) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Ashley Morgan 54
10
4.4
Good Sort
- 3f Tassort (AUS) x Canossa (AUS) (Haradasun (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Zac Lloyd 54
11
5.4
Island Dream
- 3f Divine Prophet (AUS) x Island Fever (AUS) (Henrythenavigator (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J R Collett 54
12
5.5
Spaceballs
- 3f Dundeel (NZ) x Ludicrous Mode (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Tim Clark 54
13
5.8
Idle Flyer
- 3f Dundeel (NZ) x Progressive (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Matthew Smith Rdr: J Ford 54
14
7.1
Rag Queen
- 3f D'argento (AUS) x Victory Day (AUS) (Domesday (AUS))
Tnr: David Payne Rdr: Ms L Day 54
15
7.2
My Phar Lady
- 3f American Pharoah (USA) x Lady Of Shalott (AUS) (Camelot (GB))
Tnr: Richard & Will Freedman Rdr: A Adkins 54
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