Co-trainer Matthew Ellerton is quietly confident that Solicit can record her second straight win when she contests the Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Solicit stamped herself as a leading contender for the Australian Oaks with a dominant first-up win in The Vanity. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Solicit returned to racing with a dominant victory in the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on February 15 and Ellerton told Racing Ahead this morning that the victory had taken a fair bit out of the Street Cry filly.
Ellerton believes that the three week break between runs will suit Solicit perfectly and could not be happier with the classy filly heading into the Kewney Stakes this weekend.
“She is really good,” Ellerton said.
“She has had a nice three week space and is bright and happy and well.
“I don’t think that she has improved fitness wise, she is just well in herself and is carrying a little bit of residual fitness from the spring.
“It was a tough run first-up doing that off the front and she has had the luxury of three weeks to come through it.
“I am quietly confident.
“She hasn’t missed a beat and I couldn’t be happier with her.
“She worked nice and sharp here on Tuesday and I am pleased.”
Solicit jumped from the inside barrier and went straight to the front in The Vanity, but does not have the benefit of an inside gate and will jump from barrier nine in the Kewney Stakes.
Ellerton said that jockey Damien Lane will be instructed to position Solicit towards the front of the field again this weekend and is hopeful that the three-year-old will not have to do too much work in the early stages of the race.
“It is a bit of a sticky gate,” Ellerton said.
“Obviously she will be ridden to go forward and I suppose it depends on what happens inside her.
“Whether she is leading or taking a sit, hopefully she doesn’t have to do too much work to get there.”
Solicit is expected to head to Sydney for the 2014 Autumn Racing Carnival following the Kewney Stakes and is on track to contest the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on April 5 and the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Royal Randwick on April 19.
She is currently a clear favourite in 2014 Kewney Stakes betting markets, at odds of $2, from Michael Kent-trained Marianne ($5) and exciting Perth filly Miss Rose De Lago ($9).
