Gary Portelli is bullish about the prospects of Delago Bolt in Saturday's Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington - with one proviso."The only issue we've got with Delago Bolt is his start," Portelli said."He often fumbles the start which means he gets back too far in his races."I honestly think he is good enough to win."I've got no doubt he should have almost won the Golden Slipper as a two-year-old."He ran an unlucky fourth behind Black Caviar at his first start down the straight at Flemi

Gary Portelli is bullish about the prospects of Delago Bolt in Saturday's Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington - with one proviso.

"The only issue we've got with Delago Bolt is his start," Portelli said.

"He often fumbles the start which means he gets back too far in his races.

"I honestly think he is good enough to win.

"I've got no doubt he should have almost won the Golden Slipper as a two-year-old.

"He ran an unlucky fourth behind Black Caviar at his first start down the straight at Flemington when he got too far back and came from last at the furlong (200m) to be beaten a length and a half. It was an enormous run that day.

"With even luck in running I think he's a big chance."

Despite Delago Bolt's hit-and-miss barrier manners, Portelli said he had given up trying to rectify the issue with practice sessions.

"The more we go to the barriers with him the worse he gets so we're keeping him away from them," he said.

The Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) is shaping as one of the most competitive races on Saturday's program.

Among the leading chances are Golden Slipper winner and Manikato Stakes runner-up Phelan Ready, the up-and-coming Demerit, unbeaten gelding King Pulse, star filly Irish Lights and More Than Great, who boasts a victory over Cox Plate hero So You Think three starts ago.

Delago Bolt worked with More Than Great at Flemington this week and Portelli was rapt with what he saw.

"He's very fresh. He had a gallop up the straight on Tuesday morning with More Than Great and he well and truly had his measure, I thought," Portelli said.

"It is only trackwork but he did everything right and we're pretty excited about his chances."

Delago Bolt has had three starts in Melbourne since resuming with a wayward seventh in the Up And Coming Stakes at Randwick in August.

After his fourth to Black Caviar at his Victorian debut he then bungled the start in Demerit's Guineas Prelude, again finishing seventh.

He bounced back for a solid third to Coolmore Stud rival Tickets in the Listed Doncaster Stakes (1410m) last start, an effort that prompted connections to abandon thoughts of a Caulfield Guineas start.

Portelli said they were happy with the run but felt Delago Bolt was not seasoned enough to press on to the 1600 metres of the Guineas and that "sometimes if you stretch the elastic too far you can't get it back".

Delago Bolt was instead freshened up for Saturday's sprint and top jockey Dan Nikolic stuck with him.

"He rode him last start and hopefully he knows how to get him out of the barriers," Portelli said.

Delago Bolt has drawn gate eight in the field of 15.