Date posted December 30, 2009 | Posted by Michele Cullen | Filed under
Premium Updates,
Rock of Gibraltar,
Staff FavouritesMelbourne, Vic (December 30th, 2009) - Coolmore.com reports the Group Three AJC Summer Cup at Randwick on Boxing Day was won in dashing style by New Zealand raider Solid Billing (ex Star Affair by Star Way), an Australian bred five year-old by top class shuttle sire Rock of Gibraltar.
The progressive stayer has not been far away at his last two starts in Group Two company in New Zealand prompting his owners to lobby trainer Craig Ritchie to consider a trip to Australia.
That decision paid dividends when Solid Billing served it up to anticipated leader Scouting Wide in the 2400 metre staying test and after breaking that horse before the home turn he kept right on with the job under a heady ride from Jimmy Cassidy.
Solid Billing surged over the final furlong holding on strongly to defeat Zazabeau by a length-and-a-half with six-and-a-half lengths back to the third horse Rockwood, another son of Rock of Gibraltar.
In posting his first group win, Solid Billing took his record to five wins and six placings from 23 starts with earnings of more than $118,000.
“He’s by a great sire in Rock of Gibraltar, but he really gets that stamina from his dam Star Affair, who was a tough staying mare from a really great old family,” said Craig Ritchie.
“He hadn’t been far away in his last couple of runs and the owners were keen to come over and have Christmas away from home so it’s worked out well.”
Ritchie indicated Solid Billing would be heading back to New Zealand for a short break before a possible return trip with the Group One AJC Sydney Cup at Randwick in the autumn a likely target.
Passed in shy of his $150,000 reserve at the 2006 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, Solid Billing is one of three winners for Group Two winning Star Way mare Star Affair, whose current three year-old Galileo’s Galaxy is Group One placed in South Africa.
Solid Billing is the 48th stakes-winner worldwide for Rock of Gibraltar, who has 22 yearlings catalogued for the 2010 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
Rock of Gibraltar is also represented at the William Inglis Classic sale with four yearlings on offer at Newmarket in Sydney (January 24-25th). Two colts by him have been catalogued for sale in Western Australia at the Magic Millions sale (January 28th - 31st). The son of Danehill will have stock on offer in New Zealand at Karaka where he has nine yearlings catalogued (February 1st-2nd) and at the beautiful Oaklands complex in Victoria at the Inglis Premier sale Rock of Gibraltar has 29 yearlings listed for sale (March 1st - 4th).
