Outstanding Delago Brom 2YO, Delago Bolt, appears right on target for a tilt at Golden Slipper glory after capturing the AAMI Black Opal Stakes-LR (1200m) at Canberra on Sunday (8 March).
The exciting Gary Portelli trained colt missed the kick, but settled quickly under Chris Munce’s steering and pounced with a furlong to go, racing away to score by over two lengths.
Portelli, who purchased the colt from Grange Thoroughbreds for $50,000 at last year’s Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, was ecstatic after the win … the third Black Opal victory for the talented Sydney trainer.
“He’s so laid-back this horse, it’s unbelievable, and I thought he might have blown it, but he settled nicely somehow and travelled beautifully in the run.
“I said before the race that he would have to win well to go to the Slipper and he won well … so now we’re off to the Slipper.
“I’ve always had a big opinion of this colt and he proved to me today just how good he is, and I think he’ll get even better over 1400-1600m, so the Sires' and Champagne could be on the cards too.”
Munce was pretty pumped as well: “He went right out the back, but I was always confident I could run them down. It was just about getting some luck in the run home.
“Once we got the break he exploded and continued like a nice horse.”
TAB Sportsbet was quick to wind in the bolting colt and the son of Delago Brom is now listed at $15 for the Slipper on 4 April.
Bred by Philip Sly’s Glendale Farm and foaled at Eliza Park, Delago Bolt is out of the Barathea mare Bardego, who was also pretty nippy at two having won the MRC Blue Diamond Preview-G3 and VRC Maribyrnong Trial-LR.
Grandam, Devil’s Gold was a stakesplaced winner of four from 1600m to 1800m while other family members include Lunchtime’s stakeswinning sprinter, Thai Jewel, and Queensland black typer Ta Ta Tatiana (15 wins & $359,265). Interestingly, both Delago Brom and Bardego’s grandsires – Fairy King and Sadler’s Wells respectively – are full brothers.
Delago Bolt has now raced on four occasions, debuting with a fifth in the Breeders’ Plate-LR last October. His form this time in however, has been nothing short of spectacular.
Beaten a lip at Rosehill on 17 January, he then reversed the decision at Rosehill over 1200m on 7 February before the Black Opal romp. It’s not hard to see why his trainer has such faith in the colt running a ‘mile’.
His ability to sit and swoop is a major factor, but so too is his sire, Delago Brom. Running second in the VRC Sires’ Produce-G2 (1400m) at only his third start, Delago Brom would capture the VRC Cadbury Guineas-G1 (1600m) in his farewell performance.
Indeed, the son of Encosta de Lago has displayed an ability at stud to produce colts and fillies that sprint early and train on.
Brom Brom was a multiple winner at two before winning the MRC Autumn Classic-G2; Class Prevails won a Sandown 2YO by 6 lengths and was stakesplaced at three; Butzie won the 1000 Guineas at Hobart and was third in the Tasmanian Oaks-LR; Classic Brom (now Ecstatic Macau) was placed in a Blue Diamond Preview-LR before racing with considerable success in Macau with a Group placing followed by two wins; and Lago Bay who was multiple city placed at two before heading to Singapore where he has raced six times for two wins, three seconds and a third.
Not surprisingly, the phone started ringing immediately after the Black Opal and to secure a booking to Delago Brom for the 2009 season, phone Shane McGrath on 0407 853 782 or Mark Lindsay on 0416 334 338.