Delago Bolt stormed into Golden Slipper calculations when he gave trainer Gary Portelli his third Black Opal Stakes victory.But it wasn't all smooth sailing for Portelli who admitted after the race he thought Delago Bolt was in trouble after missing the start badly in Sunday's 1200 metre feature at Canberra."This horse always misses the start and I said to Nathan Berry who was beside me before they jumped 'you watch this he'll miss the kick' and he did," Portelli said."He's so laid back this hor

Delago Bolt stormed into Golden Slipper calculations when he gave trainer Gary Portelli his third Black Opal Stakes victory.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing for Portelli who admitted after the race he thought Delago Bolt was in trouble after missing the start badly in Sunday's 1200 metre feature at Canberra.

"This horse always misses the start and I said to Nathan Berry who was beside me before they jumped 'you watch this he'll miss the kick' and he did," Portelli said.

"He's so laid back this horse it's unbelievable and I thought he might have blown it today but he settled nicely somehow and travelled beautifully in the run.

"I said before the race that he would have to win well to go to the Slipper and he won well and now we're off to the Slipper."

Jockey Chris Munce said he was never concerned despite the tardy beginning.

"He went right out the back but he was travelling and I was always confident I could run them down, it was just about getting some luck in the run home and we got it," Munce said.

Delago Bolt circled the field near the turn and Munce squeezed the colt through a narrow gap between Zikmann and We Betcha and quickly reeled in the leading bunch.

He got to the lead near the 200 metres and was locked in a brief tussle with Phenomenal Lass but quickly had her measure and went on to defeat the Paul Murray-trained filly by 2-1/4 lengths with Zikmann 2-1/2 lengths away third.

"Once we got the break he exploded and continued like a nice horse," Munce said.

TAB Sportsbet now has Delago Bolt at $15 for the $3.5 million Golden Slipper on April 4.

"I've always had a big opinion of this colt and he proved to me today just how good he is and I think he'll get even better over 1400 to 1600 metres, so the Sires' and Champagne could be on the cards too," Portelli said.

Portelli won the Black Opal with Coral Salute in 2001 and Down the Wicket three years ago.

Murray said Phenomenal Lass would most likely run in the Group One Sires' Produce (1400m) at Randwick on April 18 but was not sure if she would have a lead-up run.