A clash between two of Queensland’s southern spring contenders will take place in Brisbane this weekend after Norm Hilton elected to skip the Tramway Handicap with the Epsom-bound Bold Glance.

Bold Glance

Bold Glance will run in an open handicap at Doomben instead of the Tramway Handicap at Warwick Farm. Photo by: Daniel Costello

The Tramway, to be held at Warwick Farm, had been the original plan for the 2011 Doncaster third placegetter who will instead take on Robert Heathcote’s Emirates Stakes hope Solzhenitsyn in a 1350-metre open handicap at Doomben.

Hilton cited the chance to race in easier company as the major reason for skipping the Tramway and confirmed the seven-year-old was still on track to contest the Epsom at Randwick on October 6.

“Doomben just looks like a softer option and it also saves me having to drive down to Sydney,” Hilton said.

“We’re still going to the Epsom. That’s always been the goal and hasn’t changed.”

Despite staying in Brisbane to chase an easier race, Hilton is cautious of Solzhenitsyn who will be set on a Melbourne campaign beginning with the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes on September 30.

“Obviously we’re a great winning chance but Solzhenitsyn is certainly no slouch,” Hilton said.

Bold Glance made the first southern trip of his spring campaign on August 25 where he finished sixth to Pinwheel in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m).

The Toowoomba trainer was satisfied with the Warwick Stakes performance and said the son of Sequalo is likely to have one more run in Sydney before the Epsom.

“I wasn’t disappointed with the run. He was only beaten 2 ½ lengths,” he said.

“We’ll probably try and find something between now and the Epsom. Whether we go to the George Main (September 22) or something else I’m not quite sure yet.”

While Bold glance has already proven he can match it with those south of the border, Solzhenitsyn will embark on his first southern spring campaign after scoring back-to-back stakes wins at the Brisbane winter carnival.

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