In an action packed race that saw the scratching of both of Gerald Ryan's well fancied colts Condor Heroes and Albumin before the start, it was Single Bullet who rose to the challenge to outgun the favourite Ducimus.
He stalked Ducimus under a thoughtful ride from Tye Angland and edged clear to win the 1200 metre sprint by a short neck, his first win in four starts.
"He's honest and if something goes wrong on Slipper day as it can, it's nice to have a Plan B," said Portelli.
A $150,000 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale purchase from the Corumbene Stud
draft, Single Bullet (all images Steve Har t) runs for a huge syndicate of all women owners."When we bought him we were aiming at the women's bonus at Magic Millions," Portelli revealed.
"He didn't quite get there, but we'll take the Slipper."
Bred and sold by Corumbene Stud, who have a great record in the Golden Slipper having bred and sold Sebring and bred and retained Overreach, Single Bullet is the 38th stakes-winner for Not a Single Doubt.
Bred on the same cross as Not a Single Doubt's Group I winner Miracles of Life, he is the first winner for Cheetara, an unraced More Than Ready (USA) daughter of Group I winner Dashing Eagle.
Like the runner-up Ducimus (3 x 3) and third place-getter Coruscate (2 x 5), Single Bullet (3 x 3) has a double cross of Danehill as his grand-dam Dashing Eagle is by the champion sire.
Cheetara has no yearling this year but produced a colt by Stratum last year and was then covered again by Single Bullet's sire Not a Single Doubt, who has two yearlings entered for Magic Millions Adelaide and four for Inglis Easter.
