Racing
Verona Rose wins Group 2 Proven Thoroughbreds Guy Walter Stakes: Post Race Trainer and Jockey Quotes
Trainer and jockey quotes after Verona Rose claims the Group 2 Proven Thoroughbreds Guy Walter Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Race Result:1st: Verona Rose (G Portelli/C Williams) - $52nd: Manaal (M Freedman/J Collett) - $3.40F
3rd: Arctic Glamour (G Ryan & S Alexiou/T Sherry) - $12
Winning Time: 1:22.47 Last 600m: 34.53
Margins: ¾L x Long Head
Verona Rose shifts into gear and wins the Guy Walter Stakes! @CWilliamsJockey @GaryPortelli pic.twitter.com/KGByoKwwsw
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 28, 2026
Winning Trainer: Gary Portelli
On the ride: "That's exactly what he (Craig Williams) said he was going to do."
"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."
"I just got a bit emotional a minute ago, I saw Wendy Walter over there. I said, 'Don't look at me.' I'm going to start crying because, you know, I'm a sensitive old guy. Guy (Walter) was a great mate to us all at Warwick Farm and he's sorely missed."
On the Coolmore next: "That's what the plan has been. 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."
Winning Jockey: Craig Williams
On the horse: "She just felt like she was nearly at her top just to hold that spot with horses all around her. I followed the horse that I wanted to follow in the race, and I was confident they would be able to take me as far as I needed to go."
"She came out, she lengthened, and I thought, 'well, she's still going really well and lengthening,' but the last little bit she really put in an acceleration and put it away."
On her most effective distance: "Well, I've won on her over the mile and I won over 1400m, so she's effective in most races. 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."
Beaten Jockeys:
Jason Collett (Manaal): "Really brave. Probably better with a bit of cover. Hit a touch of the flat spot there on straightening but came again late. Very happy."
Tom Sherry (Arctic Glamour): "Ran great. Showed good improvement today and finished the race off terrific."
James McDonald (Firestorm): "Good first up run."
Nash Rawiller (Gerringong): "Feels like she still has got improvement in her."
Tyler Schiller (Dark Glitter): "She is a little bit unlucky. Probably just needs that momentum."
Chad Schofield (Jenni The Fox): "Travelled well but didn't find the line like she normally does."
Zac Lloyd (Shohisha): "She competed well. She will be better suited over a bit further."
Tim Clark (It's A Knockout): "Had a tough run and that told in the end."
Dylan Gibbons (Unique Ambition): "Fantastic. Obviously the break between told late. She gave a really good sight today so is in for a good prep."
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