A dashing late run by the Peter Snowden trainer Portillo won the $140,000, Group II, Parramatta Leagues Club Magic Night Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday to give Woodlands Stud one possible last chance at the Golden Slipper before the takeover of the operation by Darley within weeks.

The Foreign Review Board has to sanction the purchase of the breeding and racing business and the result could come through next week and the Slipper meeting on Saturday, alternatively after that with the cerise colours still flying on the Crown Lodge horses next Saturday.

The last 600m of the race was run at a faster clip than the colts and geldings in the Pago Pago Stakes who ran 36.18 against the fillies 35.54, although the overall time was 1.11.88 over the fillies at 1.11.91.

Sugar Babe (NZ) began so well from barrier nine under Damien Oliver that she lead and this set up the final sectional for the quicker time. Rod Quinn on Portillo also began well from barrier six, but he withdrew her back to eighth as the field cover the first 600m.

Quinn improved Portillo from the 500m but he was still racing behind horses passing the 300m Sugar Babe was 1L in front all the way and for a moment it appeared that she would not be caught. Finally at the 200m Quinn had a gap for his filly and Portillo went through without hesitation.

The 100m flashed by and once clear Portillo, racing in the middle of the track, took out meters from the leader, and right on the line with the final stride she took the lead. The margin was a short head.

Delta Girl (NZ) (General Nediym) was third the margin 1/2L, with Samantha Miss fourth. Portillo paid $7.80 on NSW TAB.

“I did not really want to run her as I am a big believer in just doing what horses are capable of doing,” said Snowden.

“But she just thrived this week and Thursday onwards I was confident.

“She had two runs before last week’s race and that is six weeks before the Slipper which is long time for two-year-olds in my book and there is only so much you can get out of them, but I tried to save her for a late surge and it might pay off. “It would be quite a go if she can go one more.

“It is wide open that is for sure. What happens from now depends on the barrier draw as always the telling factor,” he said.

“It was tough effort today,” said Quinn.

“She got a really nice run in the race and she knuckled down and did a good job. “I really wanted to get to the outside but the outside horse did not quicken so she had to find her way through, but it not worry her.

“She backed up alright from the other day so we will have to see how she pulls up,” he said.

“We were surprised that she led, but she began so brilliantly,” said Lee Freedman, trainer of Sugar Babe.

“But she in the race now so we are very happy,” he added

Portillo is by Red Ransom out of the Polish Precedent mare Snowdrift. Last week she was a close fourth in the Group II Reisling Stakes over 1200m at Canterbury, so her win was justified. This was her second win after her listed win in the Gimcrack Stakes over 1100m at Randwick on March 1st.