James proud of Oaks filly
The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Solid Gold (NZ) (Savabeel) finished a valiant fourth in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) won by Fireball Miss (Bivouac) a week after filling fifth placing in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m).
The daughter of Savabeel jumped from barrier one under Tommy Berry and was held up momentarily while trying to get to the better ground centre track in the home straight but connections were pleased with the filly’s gallant effort.
“I was super proud of her,” James said. “I did something that I rarely do, backing her up after a hard mile and a half the week prior.
“Tommy said that her immaturity showed a little because it got tight getting out and a more professional older horse probably would have coped. It just put her on the back foot, and he thought she should have run second.”
Solid Gold will now join stablemate Sweynesday (NZ) (Sweynesse) as they return home for a spell, with James in no rush with the filly in the spring.
“When you look at her, what a physical type she is and she hasn’t missed a beat despite the back-up,” James said.
“I have trained a lot of mile-and-a-half three-year-olds and normally it tells on them.
“Her whole demeanor on Saturday was far better than the previous Saturday in the Derby.
“What a great sire Savabeel is and I am really appreciative to the Chittick family to give me a horse like her to train. I wished we could have got a better result, but I am super happy and proud of her.
“She will head home and have a well-earned spell and you might not see her until close to Christmas time.”
By Savabeel out of the O’Reilly mare Gram, Solid Gold has already ensured she will be a prized member of the Waikato Stud broodmare band as the winner of the Gr.3 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie and a full sister to Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) winner Major Beel (NZ).
