Racing: Solvini runs Rotorua rivals ragged

Fleet-footed filly Solvini ran her rivals ragged when becoming the fourth consecutive 3-year-old to triumph in the Group Three $70,000 Lion Red Plate (1200m), one of the feature races at Arawa Park, Rotorua, yesterday.

The daughter of Bertolini followed in the hoofprints of three other speedy fillies: Pay My Bail (2003), Clean Sweep (2004) and Crepe De Chine last year.

Solvini was the only 3-year-old in the race and carried just 50.5kg, compared with the 58.5kg and 56kg her rivals had to lump in the weight-for-age feature.

She was following up an all-the-way win over 990m at New Plymouth on September 30, when ridden by Taranaki apprentice Vanessa Johnston who took the mount yesterday.

Solvini began brilliantly from an outside draw and Johnston soon drove to the rail and clear in the lead.

From there, she dictated the pace and after kicking clear on the home turn, held on gamely to beat Hasta La Ciao Ciao, Manten and Devoted.

She has unbelievable speed from the gates, Johnston said after the win.

"She actually came back to me and travelled beautifully from the 900m to the 600m and the plan was to make the most of her light weight and put the pressure on the others."

It was Johnston's biggest success, surpassing the $40,000 Savabell 1600 aboard Jurys Out at Awapuni in May of last year.

Cambridge mare Hasta La Ciao Ciao, after having trouble taking an inside gap halfway up the home straight, produced a great fresh-up performance for second.

She ran on strongly and trainer Roger James may start her in a race. restricted to fillies and mares, at Flemington on November 7.

Manten, which was attempting to win his third race in as many starts this season, battled on gamely for third and Devoted was fourth.

The well-backed favourite Baldesserini was outpaced from the start and, though brought wide by rider Lisa Cropp in the straight, couldn't finish on and was a long way from the placegetters at the finish.

Solvini is from the English-bred mare Paris Sky, by Paris House, and was bred by prominent Auckland thoroughbred breeder Richard Moore.

She is trained at Ardmore by Stephen McKee, with two of the owners being his father, Trevor, and Thane Green, both of whom shared in the ownership of the champion mare Sunline.

Two races later, former top jockey Ross Elliot recorded his biggest success as a trainer after Zilzie won the other Group Three feature, the $70,000 Rotorua Challenge Plate over 1900m.

Elliot, a leading apprentice jockey, rode legendary galloper Rough Habit to win a Queensland Derby and finished an unlucky and close second in a Cox Plate.

He then went on to become a leading cross-country and highweight rider, winning most of the major jumping races on the calendar.

He is in his fourth season as a trainer, preparing a team of 10 horses at Cambridge.

The Generous mare will be turned out for a spell and brought back next autumn.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY