Kiwi filly Solid Gold will be on the quick back-up when she takes her place in Saturday’s Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) following her fifth placing in last weekend’s Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m).
The Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) will always have special meaning to Cambridge horseman Robert Wellwood, who won his first Derby in the 2022 edition of the race with Pinarello, and he is hoping to double his tally in the Classic this weekend.
Solid Gold has had few favours this week, but trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are pleased with the Waikato Stud filly ahead of her Australian debut in the Gr.3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Promising three-year-old filly Solid Gold stepped from a maiden victory at Ellerslie over 1600m at her last start to Group Three glory at the venue on Saturday when she claimed the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m).
Robert Wellwood believes the pre-post market for Saturday’s Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m) is a fair reflection of his stable's three-strong bid on the age group feature at Ellerslie.
Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood will have an eye on Sydney this weekend, but all going to plan the Kingsclere conditioners could be represented by runners in multiple Australian states in the coming month.
New Zealand Derby winner Road To Paris has come through his exertions in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) well, in which he finished seventh behind runaway winner Green Spaces.
