Gary Portelli is keen to take Rose Of Peace to Melbourne this spring but will be guided by how the filly resumes at Canterbury on Wednesday.Rose Of Peace, a three-year-old daughter of Hussonet out of Rose O' War, makes her comeback in the Chifley Financial Services Maiden (1250m).In her three-year-old spring campaign in 1998, Rose O' War won a Listed race and was runner-up in the Group Two Wakeful Stakes (2000m) and Group One VRC Oaks (2500m)."She's a beautifully-bred filly who has always indica
Gary Portelli is keen to take Rose Of Peace to Melbourne this spring but will be guided by how the filly resumes at Canterbury on Wednesday.
Rose Of Peace, a three-year-old daughter of Hussonet out of Rose O' War, makes her comeback in the Chifley Financial Services Maiden (1250m).
In her three-year-old spring campaign in 1998, Rose O' War won a Listed race and was runner-up in the Group Two Wakeful Stakes (2000m) and Group One VRC Oaks (2500m).
"She's a beautifully-bred filly who has always indicated she'll be better over further," Portelli said of Rose Of Peace.
"I'm hoping to send her to Melbourne after this run."
Portelli doesn't expect the 1250m around Canterbury to suit Rose Of Peace first-up but will be looking for her to be hitting the line well with apprentice Brenton Avdulla in the saddle.
"I would like to think she might be able to stack up to something like the Wakeful in Melbourne but I want to see her run well tomorrow," the trainer said.
"I'll be guided by what she does, but I've got no doubt she'll make a beautiful filly in the autumn."
Rose Of Peace raced twice last season as a two-year-old, finishing sixth over 1100m on debut at Canterbury in June before running second to No Hesitation in a 1200m 2YO Handicap at Rosehill later that month.
The Warwick Farm-based trainer has two other runners at the midweek meeting and expects four-year-old mare Prerequisite to turn in a good fresh performance in the Teachers Eyecare Handicap (1100m).
The daughter of Charge Forward was a first-up winner over the same course and distance last preparation before her form dropped away.
"She ticks all the boxes but I'm just not sure based on her last runs last preparation whether she still wants to be a racehorse," Portelli said.
"She raced in strong company but she wasn't putting in and she needs to show me on race day that she's back.
"I do expect her to run well from the good draw (barrier three)."
Lighthorseman is nominated for Saturday's Group Two Shorts (1200m) but Portelli said the five-year-old would run at Canterbury in the opening race.
Portelli is hoping the gelding settles better than he did last start when second to Whitefriars over 1000m at Warwick Farm.
Meanwhile, Nash Rawiller will not be riding at Canterbury due to back soreness.
He has been replaced by Hugh Bowman on Eravana in the second race.