Photo: Trish Dunell
While comparisons with his older stablemate Sharp ‘N’ Smart are inevitable, promising two-year-old colt Solidify is the son of Redwood currently in the limelight after adding his first win at stakes level to a burgeoning career when taking out the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Services 2YO Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Solidify and multiple Group One winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart share the same sire in the Westbury Stud-based Redwood and it looks like lightning may have struck twice for trainers Team Rogerson with both horses having picked up black-type success during their two-year-old preparation.
While Solidify will have to go up many levels to match his older barn mate, who won three times at Group One level during his recently completed three-year-old campaign, co-trainer Graeme Rogerson is convinced the ability is there for him to reach similar heights.
"Ryan (Elliot, jockey) thinks he is every bit as good as Sharp ‘N’ Smart which is pretty exciting,” Rogerson said.
“I think the best part of his win today was he never really handled the heavy ground that well but when Ryan asked him for an effort he lengthened out and did it easy.
“I think he could be very smart and you have to pinch yourself a little to have a pair like him and Sharp ‘N’ Smart in the stable.”
Solidify justified the opinion held of him by Rogerson and Elliot as he blew his rivals away in the final 200m at Te Rapa when coming from off the pace to down Glamour Tycoon by just on a length, which has only fuelled further thoughts of an ambitious Brisbane winter campaign for him.
“We took Sharp ‘N’ Smart to Brisbane last winter and he was very unlucky not to win both of his starts when beaten a nose first up and then running fourth after suffering interference in the JJ Atkins Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m),” Rogerson said.
“We’re going to try and win it with Solidify this time, although it will depend on how he pulls up after today’s win, before we map out a final path.
“He could run at Pukekohe in the Futurity Stakes (Listed, 1400m) on May 27 or he might go to Brisbane for the Sires Produce Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m) on the same day and then to the Atkins on the 10th of June.
“Whichever way we go I think he will be able to show people just how good he is and the good thing is that Ryan will be riding him here and in Australia as well.”
Rogerson purchased the Redwood colt for $140,000 from the Westbury Stud draft at last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, with stud proprietor Gerry Harvey remaining in the ownership group.
Out of the Redoute’s Choice mare The Warrior Woman, who is a sister to outstanding racemare Royal Descent, Solidify has now won two of his first three starts with the promise of plenty more to come.
