Solid Billing might be the Frank Underwood Cup outsider but Craig Ritchie believes his stable flag bearer is preparing as well as ever for another shot at Sydney’s summer staying features.
The winner of the 2009 Group Three Summer Cup, Solid Billing takes another step towards next month’s Summer Cup (2400m) when he runs in Saturday’s Listed Frank Underwood Cup (1900m) at Canterbury.
A Sydney Cup (3200m) third placegetter in April, Solid Billing has come in among the tailenders in two starts this campaign, including the Hawkesbury Cup (1600m).
But that hasn’t dented his trainer’s summer hopes.
“I’m very happy with the way he is coming up,” Ritchie said.
“That’s normally how I bring him up. He needs to be match fit when he steps up in ground because of his style of racing out in front in the staying races.
“I was never expecting him to be competitive in those first two runs over the shorter distances but he’s getting closer now.
“I never really thought he would be very competitive in this race either but now with all the rain around it’s brought him into it a bit more.”
Canterbury remained in the heavy range on Friday after 70mm of rainfall this week including 8mm overnight.
“It’s not so much that he likes the wet, it’s just that it turns into more of a staying event which gives him a better chance,” the trainer said, with Solid Billing at $41 on TAB Sportsbet.
The Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) on December 10 and the Summer Cup on Boxing Day, both at Rosehill, are the stayer’s immediate goals.
Ritchie will then space his runs with a view to next year’s Adelaide and Sydney Cups.
Solid Billing is one of 10 horses Ritchie has in work having relocated to Warwick Farm from New Zealand in July.
Ritchie first brought Solid Billing to Sydney two years ago when the gelding scored by 1-1/2-lengths in the Summer Cup with Jim Cassidy aboard.
“Jim Cassidy rode him (Solid Billing) for me at the Randwick trials recently and said he feels as good as ever and I agree with him,” Ritchie said.
“Jay Ford has ridden him in a trial and in the Hawkesbury Cup last start and I’m happy that he gets the gist of how the horse needs to be ridden.
“Jay was happy with his Hawkesbury Cup run, as was I.
“With the pace they were going to run that race and the style of track it was never going to suit him. But when he gets to 2400 metres and further, that’s ideal for him.”
Yulalona is the $4.80 favourite just ahead of Zara Dancer at $5.
Miss Keepsake was joint favourite in early betting but was scratched on Friday afternoon as she is not at her best in wet ground.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Teardrop Rock has also been scratched.
AAP TURF
