Portfolio

Portfolio put up a good performance to finish a close-up third in the Listed Chalice Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.  She adopted a nice prominent position just behind the pace early on, and it looked like she was travelling better than any of her rivals as she moved up on the near side on the run to the two-furlong marker.  But Save A Forest and Sayyida made their ground from the rear towards the far side, and they moved on into a share of the lead.  Portfolio appeared to get a little lonely on the near side because she picked up well as they met the rising ground and she moved over towards her two rivals.  She only finished third, but she was only beaten a total of a length by the Oaks fourth Save A Forest in a race that was run in a really good time, 0.17secs/furlong faster than Racing Post standard.

This was another good run by Sir Michael Stoute’s filly, stepped up in grade.  She had won her two previous races, both handicaps, and she proved here that she belonged in listed company at least, even though she was rated 4lb lower than the winner going into the race.  She had made all the running in winning her two previous races, both over 10 furlongs, and she was ridden a little more conservatively here, stepped up in trip as well as in grade.  But she saw out the 12-furlong trip well, and it wouldn’t be surprising if she was ridden more forward the next time she races over 12 furlongs.
Goodwood, 31^st July 2021