Portorosa
RACE: Lonhro Plate (Listed, 1000m)
TRAINER: Annabel Neasham
Annabel Neasham will be hoping that her juvenile filly Portorosa (Not A Single Doubt) can produce a performance similar to that of Learning To Fly’s (Justify) in last weekend’s Widden Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) when she takes to the track for the first time today at Sandown.
The daughter of Arrowfield Stud stallion Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) will step out in the Lonhro Plate (Listed, 1000m) bidding to become the fourth consecutive filly to win the contest after Supreme Idea (I Am Invincible) (2020), Tilianam (Savabeel) (2021) and last year’s scorer Cythera (I Am Invincible).
To do so, Portorosa must defeat six rivals including Inglis Banner (Listed, 1000m) runner-up and Golden Gift (1100m) sixth Mexico (Capitalist) and fellow unraced stablemate Tawfiq Star (Tosen Stardom).
A $650,000 purchase for her trainer in conjunction with Brian McGuire and TFI Ladies out of the Arrowfield Stud draft at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Portorosa has produced two promising trial displays to date, finishing fifth in both contests respectively, with the first of those coming behind Sicilian (I Am Invincible), one of today’s rivals.
Portorosa is the second foal out of the winning Heart’s Cry (Sunday Silence) mare Laguna Azzura and is a half-sister to Takshaka (Lord Kanaloa), a two-time winner from four career starts.
Laguna Azzura is herself out of the three-time Listed-winning mare Silky Lagoon (Brian’s Time), making her a half-sister to Group 3 winner Seewind (Deep Impact) and the Listed-placed winner Seidig Meer (Zenno Rob Roy).