Trainer comfortable with Championship market

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.

With training partner Roger James, they will be represented in the Trelawney Stud-sponsored event by current favourite Solid Gold (NZ) (Savabeel), Waimea Bay (NZ) (Savabeel) and Fantastic Ideas (NZ) (Puccini).

The Cambridge duo also have their sights set on a Sydney major with quality mare She’s A Dealer (NZ) (Ace High), who will take aim at the Gr.3 JRA Plate (2000m) at Randwick where she will have to overcome a wide gate in 14.

“She’s travelled over very well and did a little piece of work this (Thursday) morning because she’s thriving,” Wellwood said.

“It’s all good with her, apart from the draw which isn’t ideal.”

On the domestic front, Solid Gold’s impressive last-start maiden success at Ellerslie has earned the daughter of Savabeel a $3.40 quote for the Championship Stakes.

“The way she won last time out, she probably deserves to be the favourite,” Wellwood said.

“She’s a filly that has showed a lot for a long time and put it altogether last time. The 2100m is really going to suit her and she’s drawn nicely, so it makes sense where she sits.”

Like her stablemate, Waimea Bay is raced by breeders Waikato Stud and was runner-up three runs back in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and was most recently fourth in the Gr.3 Wellington Guineas (1600m).

In between times, she was unplaced over ground in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) and is rated a $13 chance.

“We’re not really sure whether she goes further than a mile, she didn’t have much of an opportunity to tell us in the Guineas,” Wellwood said.

“She got trapped wide, so we are going to learn a lot more on Saturday.”

There are no such distance doubts about Puccini’s daughter Fantastic Ideas who broke her maiden last time out over 2000m in her second appearance and is rated a $27 hope.

“Her work has been superb and she was very game and tough when she won at Matamata,” Wellwood said.

“She got trapped wide and went forward and was strong to the line, so we wouldn’t put her out of it. There will be some that won’t run the trip, but there’s certainly no issue with her.

“Solid Gold looks the class one of them, but it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see the other two right in it.”

Meanwhile, dependable five-year-old December (NZ) (Shamexpress) has the ideal gate (two) to chase major honours in the Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) in his first crack at a mile.

The Shamexpress five-year-old was a last-start third in the Listed Flying Handicap (1400m) at Trentham where he drew 15 of 16.

“He was super, we tried to get to the middle of the track and George (Rooke) didn’t feel it was much better out there,” Wellwood said.

“It will be interesting to see him over the mile, he’s drawn to get a soft trip and give himself every chance.”

The stable will also have a pair of promising Per Incanto youngsters to do battle in the Listed Skycity Star Way Stakes (1200m).

“It will be interesting to see how they handle the track, when Incandescent (NZ) (Per Incanto) last ran on a soft track, Masa (Hashizume) didn’t think he handled it all that well,” Wellwood said.

“Spellbound (NZ) (Per Incanto) trialled really well the other day and it probably will come down to which one copes with the track the best.

“Whatever happens, they will both be better next season and I think you’ll seem them in the Guineas races.”