100-1 shot Rose Of Peace storms home in the Wenona Girl

Punters were left lamenting when 100-1 shot Rose Of Peace stormed down the outside to take out the Listed $100,000 TAB Sportsbet Wenona Girl Handicap (1200m) at Randwick today.

The rank outsider of the field at $101, Rose Of Peace surprised trainer Gary Portelli and jockey Brenton Avdulla who had ridden Fibrillation to victory earlier in the day.

Avdulla had Rose Of Peace out the back while Jim Cassidy had the $4.20 favourite Alberton Park parked just behind the leaders coming to the home turn.

The Hussonet mare was steered to the middle of the track by Avdulla and with runner up Quidnunc ($21) the only runner to her outside had a clear run to the line to score by a neck with Alberton Park winding up in third spot.

“We were honest in our approach today. We were badly weighted in a strong race and drew badly. She’s an honest filly but I couldn’t see her beating these horses at the weights,” Portelli said.

“It was a fantastic ride. He was patient and put her in a good spot and she has just come back a bit stronger I think.”

“She’s worth a lot as brood mare now.”

Avdulla agreed with Porttelli and thought Rose Of Peace would run a nice race and maybe a tidy fourth or fifth and wasn’t giving the four year old much of a chance coming up against a smart field of mares.

“I thought all my good rides were gone. I always thought she had a little bit of ability. I just had to ride her quiet from the barrier and I thought the middle of the track wouldn’t be a bad place at this time of the day,” Avdulla said.

“I was quite shocked how well she travelled up to them and when I gave her a dig and put the pressure on them she keep responding.”

 

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.