Trainer Kevin Kemp is confident that stable star Sold For Song will prove tough to beat when she lines up for Saturday’s Listed Sunshine Coast Cup (1400m).
Sold For Song is set to run in Saturday’s Listed Sunshine Coast Cup third-up. Photo: Steve Hart
Purchased for only $2500, Sold For Song has been a star of Queensland racing through recent seasons and will enter the Sunshine Coast Cup with an outstanding record of three wins and seven minors through only thirteen starts; highlighted by two black type triumphs.
Having run on well for third amongst talented company in the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes (1400m) at Flemington a fortnight ago, Kemp told AAP that the Collate mare has taken plenty of benefit from the second-up performance and is confident that the Sunshine Coast conditions will again suit on Saturday.
“I brought her home the day after the run. I thought it was a great effort her first start in Melbourne and having to travel so far,” Kemp said.
“It was a good quality field and gave us an idea of where she is at in her career.
“I have never had a horse travel as well as she did. It was a good pointer to the future.
“I had actually thought about stopping off in Sydney for the Carrington Stakes on Saturday. But our long term goal is to head back to Melbourne in the spring,
“It would be good to pick up some more black type for her, she has raced three times at the Sunshine Coast for a win and minor placings in two black type races.
“The big long straight there suits her racing style because she gets back and charges home.”
Ending her debut campaign with an impressive win in the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) in late 2015, Sold For Song resumed in late autumn last year for consecutive second-place finishes in the Listed Mick Dittman Plate (1000m) and Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m).
Failing to fire when twelfth in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1350m), the filly out of Buena Chava responded well for third in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) before returning to winning form in the Listed Daybreak Lover Stakes (1400m) on June 25th.
Having returned to the paddock after finishing third in the Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m), Sold For Song was unable to make much of an impact through two starts in Sydney during spring, but resumed this time for a close second in the Listed Nudgee Quality (1200m) on December 31st, in what was her only other start prior to the Chester Manifold Stakes.
The 2017 Sunshine Coast Cup field and barrier draw is due to be completed and released by midday, Wednesday (January 25th).
