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The Group 1 Coolmore Classic on March 14 is calling for the in-form Gary Portelli-trained Verona Rose after her good win in Randwick’s 2026 Guy Walter Stakes results on Saturday.

Improving on her close third in the Group 3 Triscay Stakes last start, the bonny four-year-old daughter of Castelvecchio was rated perfectly by big race specialist Craig Williams who executed his pre-race plan to have the mare in the box seat ready to fire when asked in the Group 2 $300,000 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m).  

“That’s exactly what he (Craig Williams) said he was going to do,” Portelli told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-victory.

“He said, ‘I’ll be box seating and she’ll be too strong.’

“Exactly where he wanted to be, he got to, he made sure she got to that spot. I was just saying, she’d come across heels and I thought, ‘Okay, she’s going to let rip now, but she took forever to actually really let down this time.

“I said, ‘Okay, you pushed your way out, do something.’

“The leader was kicking pretty strongly. She did a great job.”

Sitting around fifth on the turn for home, Verona Rose and Williams began working into the clear at the top of the straight with plenty to give.

Verona Rose ($5) wound up beautifully inside the final furlong to run down the leader Unique Ambition, hit the lead and kick away for a strong three-quarter length victory ahead of her tougher targets this Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Grinding away well to run second was Michael Freedman‘s better fancied favourite Manaal ($3.40F) who was brave in defeat giving the weight away, while Arctic Glamour finished off the trifecta in third.

Portelli is now eyeing a Rosehill run in a fortnight’s time for Verona Rose who looks set to head to the Group 1 $1 million Coolmore Classic (1500m).

“That’s what the plan has been (to head to the Coolmore,” Portelli confirmed.

“I thought physically she had improved this preparation, and here she is.

“She is a daughter of a good stallion in Castelvecchio, we bought her for $30,000 from Arrowfield at the Classic Sale.

“We were aiming for an Oaks when I first bought her, we thought she has got a pedigree that should run two miles. But she’s brilliant.

“I think the Coolmore, down in the weights, she should be very competitive.”

Krone (2021) was the last mare to complete the Guy Walter Stakes / Coolmore Classic double.

Verona Rose has firmed in from $15 to $6 in the latest all-in Coolmore Classic 2026 odds at Ladbrokes.com.au and Williams is confident she’ll make her presence felt.

“I‘ve won on her over the mile and I won over 1400m, so she’s effective in most races,” he said.

“She was very good first-up as well over a shorter trip.

“She’s in really good form and she’s going super, and she’ll get more confidence there from the win.”

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