Trainer Gary Portelli is into next week’s 2017 Golden Slipper Stakes field with two top hopes, the favourite She Will Reign to be joined by her Pago Pago Stakes winning stablemate Single Bullet.

Pago Pago Stakes winner Single Bullet is into the 2017 Golden Slipper Stakes field. Photo: Steve Hart.

An honest Not A Single Doubt colt, Single Bullet was given a final chance to make the world’s richest race for two-years-old running at Rosehill Gardens on Coolmore Classic Day in the $175,000 Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m).

There was plenty of pre-race drama in a big blow for Gerald Ryan whose two runners – Condor Heroes and Albumin – were both scratched at the gates.

Clear favourite was the undefeated Team Hawkes-trained Ducimus coming off a Flemington black-type win in the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m).

Ducimus was given a positive run out of the gates and led from Single Bullet who was right up on his outside, ridden by Tye Angland.

Angland took over from Tim Clark who rode Single Bullet first-up for his third in the wet at Randwick a fortnight back in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m), the horse’s third placing from as many career runs.

It was the favourite up front ahead of Single Bullet, the two best in betting leading their rivals into the straight.

Coruscate also got into the clear and was making good head-way, but it was a stride-for-stride battle between Ducimus and Single Bullet all the way to the line.

There was nothing between the two gun juveniles fighting it out for a spot in the $3.5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) in seven days’ time back at Rosehill Gardens.

With 50m left to travel, Single Bullet wore down the gallant in defeat Ducimus, getting his head in front and posting his maiden career win.

Coruscate from the John O’Shea and Godolphin stables finished off the Pago Pago Stakes trifecta in third.

It was a gutsy win from Single Bullet who chased the favourite the whole way after Angland was given no chance but to go forward and ride up on the pace.

Portelli now has a big chance of claiming his first Golden Slipper Stakes trophy with the top fancied filly and the Pago Pago Stakes winner looking for the double last completed by Stratum back in 2005.

“I’m not saying he’ll win it, but we’re in it and sometimes that’s half the battle,” Portelli said post-win.

“I think she [She Will Reign] is pretty superior. But he’s honest and if things go wrong in the Slipper, which they can do, I’ve got a good Plan B.”

To get behind the Pago Pago Stakes winner Single Bullet at the top Golden Slipper Stakes odds for next weekend head to Ladbrokes.com.au now.

2017 Pago Pago Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Rosehill Race 3 – 11/03/2017