Greg Bennett believes the weather, and not a country formline, is the biggest query for Solitaire Princess when she makes her city debut at Warwick Farm on Saturday.
The Scone-based trainer has selected Saturday’s Rosebud Preview (1100m) to test the credentials of Solitaire Princess after the daughter of Universal Prince rattled home to win the Silver Goblet (1120m) at Dubbo at her only race start.
“I’m expecting her, if she handles the heavy, to run a very big race,” Bennett said.
“I certainly don’t think she’s out of her depth.”
Solitaire Princess will be joined at Warwick Farm by stablemate Oh My Papa who is chasing a first city win in the One Club, One ATC Membership Handicap (1400m).
Tim Clark will partner both fillies in his first rides for Bennett.
“I think both fillies will run well and I’m happy to have Tim Clark on them,” Bennett said.
“I did have Nash Rawiller for the two-year-old but she didn’t get his weight and Kerrin McEvoy is committed to Darley so he couldn’t stick with Oh My Papa after riding her last start. I missed out on those two guys but I’m not missing out on anything with Tim on board.”
Clark has had a career-best season, sitting third on the Sydney premiership, and will head to Hong Kong in August after earning a contract to ride there next season.
Bennett said Solitaire Princess had “come on in leaps and bounds” in the past six weeks after taking time to mature, and the trainer was impressed with the youngster’s winning debut at Dubbo.
“She’ll be a better three and four-year-old but she’s only a week off being three now anyway,” Bennett said.
“Saturday’s race is a test but if she comes through it well and runs a place or something and handles the heavy track, I would like to think we could press on to something like the Rosebud early in the spring and try to pinch some black type with her.”
Oh My Papa finished third at Warwick Farm in a midweek fillies and mares assignment over 1300m last start.
The last time Oh My Papa raced in a three-year-old fillies event was first-up over 1100m during the Scone Cup carnival in May when she ran a close second to Ardeche.
“She’s a filly that needs everything to go her way but I think she’ll be competitive,” Bennett said.
Warwick Farm was rated a heavy (10) on Friday after 29mm of overnight rain took the week’s total to 77mm.
AAP TURF
