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Solemn gave Peter Snowden back-to-back Geelong Classics on Wednesday afternoon but the in-form trainer moved quickly to purge any comparisons with last year’s winner Induna.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Snowden is yet to decide whether Solemn will contest this year’s $1.5m Victoria Derby next weekend, where a potential showdown with Murray Baker unbeaten wonder colt It’s A Dundeel awaits.
Should he do so he’ll follow in the footsteps of stablemate Induna, who finished runner-up to Sangster in last year’s Derby.
“The Derby’s a race we’ve always had in mind but my honest opinion is he’s probably six months away from where he should be,” Snowden said.
“He’ll be the best judge of that, he’ll be the barometer as to whether we go to the Derby with him or whether we pull the pin.
“He’s a talented horse that has got a good pedigree to say he’ll run good trip. That was a good decisive win today.”
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy settled Solemn at the rear in the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) before sweeping around the field into the home turn.
He hit the front about 200m from home and never looked like getting beaten.
Malabar Man ran second for Michael Kent and Escado ran third.
“He had a lovely run, we wanted to forego a position early just to make sure he ran the trip,” Snowden said.
“He got on the back of the favourite and it gave him a lovely cart into the race so he timed his run perfectly.
“He was good enough to be strong at the end and come away.”
McEvoy said he felt like the winner before the home turn.
“We’ve always liked him so it was nice to see him do that today,” McEvoy said
“There was a bit of action early then they set it up along the back but my fella just relaxed beautifully.
“That was the key today to get him to run the trip. I felt the winner from the six hundred.
“It’s A Dundeel is the [Derby] benchmark so we’ll see how he goes on the weekend but hopefully this fella can line up in good shape.”
