Qld Stakes Success for Solzhenitsyn (NZ)

The Karaka weanling graduate Solzhenitsyn (NZ) continued his hot form on Saturday taking his second consecutive stakes victory in the $80,000 Listed Strawberry Road Handicap (1600m) at Eagle Farm.

Trained by Robert Heathcote and ridden by Michael Rodd, Solzhenitsyn (St Petersburg x Tri Victory) was trapped wide and back in the field in the early stages of the race and improved three wide during the running to be four lengths from the leaders at the 600 metre mark.

In the straight the five-year-old was too sharp for his opposition, taking the lead at the 200 metre mark and racing away to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths with the New Zealand bred Firebolt (NZ) (Stravinsky) taking second place.

The son of St Petersburg took the Group 3 Lord Mayor's Cup (1600m) at his last start and Saturday's win was his third consecutive victory this preparation.

Trainer Robert Heathcote is undecided where Solzhenitsyn will go next with the Tatt's Mile a possibility and also the spelling paddock.

Solzhenitsyn has always shown ability but has really come into his own this preparation. Heathcote is keen to see him take the next step and is looking at aiming the horse at the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) in the spring. He is also not ruling out a tilt at the Cox Plate.

Trained by Richard Otto before moving to Australia, Solzhenitsyn raced nine times in New Zealand for three wins and three placings and ran third to subsequent stakes winner Fazzle (Johar) at his last NZ appearance at Ellerslie on New Year's Day last year.

Bred by Grande Vue Lodge Syndicate, Solzhenitsyn was offered by Grande Vue Lodge at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2007 National Weanling Sale and was purchased by Paul Willetts for $10,000.

Raced by Paul Willetts, Mr Lawrence Nash, Mrs Cherry Taylor, Mr J Capo, Mr Damon Gabbedy and Mr A Watkins, Solzhenitsyn has now won nine of his 21 career starts for over $370,000 in stakes.

Solzhenitsyn is the leading performer for his sire St Petersburg (Nureyev) who is the sire of five stakes winners including Chartreuse and St Peter's Gift.