Toowoomba trainer Kevin Kemp is already looking a year in advance with his smart filly Sold For Song who he believes will be the perfect Stradbroke Handicap 2017 hope next Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.
Next year’s 2017 Stradbroke Handicap is the long term target for Sold For Song. Photo: Steve Hart.
The three-year-old daughter of Collate has to date had eight career starts for three wins, three seconds and a third.
She finished a brave third behind Tsaritsa two back on Stradbroke Handicap Day in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) in an all-filly Trifecta after coming from the outside barrier 18.
Defeated only 1.6 lengths that run, she went two better next time out last Saturday back at Eagle Farm for her Listed Daybreak Lover (1400m) win with apprentice James Orman in the saddle for a second time.
Orman is on standby again this weekend with Sold For Song accepted for a possible seven day back-up into the $125,000 Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) back over a mile at Caloundra.
All reports from Kemp are that the in-form filly came out of her Daybreak Lover win well and that the Sunshine Coast Guineas, in which she is drawn barrier 12 of 15, is on the cards.
“She has been bright this week and if that continues she will run on Saturday. But if she shows us she has had enough she will go for a spell,” Kemp told AAP.
“I will make a final decision on Friday.”
There is also a chance Sold For Song will be tested in tougher interstate company this coming Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival with races like Flemington’s Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) in mind.
Kemp though again stands by the best interest of his horse, wanting Sold For Song to retain longevity with an eye on next year’s $1.5 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in the winter.
“There is always next winter and we think she will be an ideal Stradbroke Handicap horse next year,” he said.
Should Sold For Song run in the Sunshine Coast Guineas on Saturday she’ll be out to give the fillies back-to-back wins after the success of Chris Waller’s champion Winx in the race 12 months ago.
Winx went on to put her name in the history books over her subsequent spring campaign that culminated with a win in the iconic Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in October.
The now four-year-old daughter of Street Cry was last seen posting her sixth Group 1 victory in the Doncaster Mile in Sydney on April 2 and has a scheduled spring return for August 20 in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) back at Royal Randwick.
To get behind Sold For Song this weekend and to access the best Group 1 spring racing markets in Melbourne and Sydney, visit Ladbrokes.com.au today!
