Solicit to miss Australian Guineas

Last start Flemington winner Solicit will miss Saturday’s Group 1 $500,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington with the filly to concentrate on the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Solicit scores first up win in The Mitty's Vanity.

Solicit scores first up win in The Mitty's Vanity. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

The Matt Ellerton and Simon Zahra trained filly scored an impressive first up all the way win in the Group 3 $150,000 The Mittys Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on February 15 but prominent owner David Moodie is reluctant to step her straight up to Group 1 company.

Instead he will take a softer approach and run her in the Group 2 $220,000 TAB Kewney Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 8 against the fillies before heading to Sydney with the Group 1 $600,000 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill on March 22 an option.

“I’m just thinking long-term, I’ve always been inclined in that direction,” Moodie told Racing Network..

“Second-up, capacity field, 1600 (metres) and you could draw bad. I just don’t want to bottom her out.

“I’ve just taken a long term view to it. She has her life ahead of her and she is probably not as seasoned as we would want to see her yet.

”We will just go the softer route.”

Moodie can also consider the Group 2 $175,000 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill against her own age as a second option on March 22.

Solicit showed her class during the Melbourne Spring Carnival with two thirds at Group 2 level in the $220,000 TAB Edward Manifold Stakes (1610m) on October 5 and the $300,000 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on November 2 both at Flemington.

The Street Cry filly was then beaten less than half a length when 3rd behind Kirramosa and Zanbagh in the Group 1 $1m Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 7.

Ellerton was very excited after Solicit’s win in the Vanity and said that the filly had matured a lot since the since the Spring and will continued to improve into the Autumn.

“She’s got it before her, she’s exciting for us,” Ellerton said after her win at Flemington.

“She has grown up a lot and like I said the Spring seasoned her well.”

With Solicit out of the Australian Guineas market order, Ladbrokes.com.au have Adelaide three year old Hucklebuck the $3.50 favourite following his one and a quarter lengths win in the Group 3 $150,000 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 15.

The Bart and James Cummings trained Eurozone is next in the betting at $4.20 in front of Cox Plate winner Shamus Award at $7 and The Quarterback at $8.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.