Redwood 2YO Solidify Ready for G1 JJ Atkins

Media Release - Friday June 9

Graeme Rogerson is confident of a bold showing from Solidify at Eagle Farm on Saturday and he’s also looking forward to the longer-term benefits from the Queensland venture.

The Tuhikaramea conditioner co-trains the son of Redwood with wife Debbie and also shares in the ownership group of the Gr.1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) contender.

Solidify will contest the  Gr.1 JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Photo: Trish Dunell

Solidify won two of his three New Zealand starts, including the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa before he departed for Brisbane.

The two-year-old was unplaced in the Gr.2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) after a buffeting in the straight and Rogerson believes a change of luck can see the colt give his Australian counterparts a run for their money in the hands of Ryan Elliot.

“I can’t believe he has drifted in the market ($18). I thought his first run was enormous,” he said.

“He had no luck and got flattened, but he picked himself up again to get to the line. Ryan thought he was going really well turning for home and said if he got the run he would have been right in it.

“He’s been eating everything since and galloped well on Tuesday morning. He’s doing a treat.

“This trip will make the horse and it will be interesting on Saturday. I think he is something really special.”

Rogerson is following a similar path with Solidify that he trod last season with Sharp ‘N’ Smart, also by Redwood, who finished fourth in the JJ Atkins on his way to future multiple Group One victories.

“The trip to Queensland made Sharp “N” Smart and he looks outstanding,” he said.

“He’s won $3 million and the only thing that stopped him having a better record was the wet tracks.”

Sharp ‘N’ Smart will have one outing at home during the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival before he returns to Australia.

Advertisement

“I’ll run him in a trial and probably one day at Hastings before he goes,” Rogerson said.

“I’ve nominated him for the Caulfield Cup (Gr.1, 2400m), the Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m) and the Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m).

“I’m waiting to see what weight he gets and that will be interesting. At this stage, my thinking is the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and he’ll do New Zealand proud.”

Rogerson is also thrilled with the progress being made by Mascarpone, who hasn’t raced for 16 months.

The Shooting To Win gelding won the Gr.1 Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m), but subsequently suffered a suspensory injury during an exhibition gallop at Ellerslie.

“He’s been back in work for six or seven weeks and he looks fantastic,” Rogerson said.

“He’s on the treadmill and swimming and he’s a day-to-day proposition for sure, but he has been all his life.  

“I ran him right-handed at Ellerslie and that’s when he did the damage.”

The winner of eight of his 26 starts, Mascarpone was successful in the 2021 Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) and Rogerson sees the Te Rapa feature as an ideal starting point for the chestnut’s spring campaign.

“All going well, he’ll run in the Foxbridge and then maybe the Tarzino Trophy (Gr.1, 1400m) and the Arrowfield Stud Plate (Gr.1, 1600m),” he said. By Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk– SENZ Racing

Advertisment
More Reading...
Cambridge Stud Welcome Hello Youmzain First NZ bred SW
Lucy In The Sky delivered a memorable result on multiple fronts with her historic success at Riccarton.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday May 6
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
100th National Yearling Sale to Debut New Format
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th anniversary of the National Yearling Sales in New Zealand, a significant milestone to celebrate.
Winning Return for Talented Redwood Solidify
It may not have been a pretty win, but it was a win nonetheless for Solidify in the Poverty Bay Turf Club 3YO C&G (1100m) at Taupo on Wednesday.
One to Watch – Kembla
Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner Nepotism is not the only talented two year-old winner by Brutal this season that was bred and sold by Gilgai Farm.
$650,000 Stay Inside Filly Sets Inglis Weanling Sale Alight
The first session of the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale on Monday produced a new overall record price for this sale when a filly by Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside sold for $650,000.
Westbury Stud Announce 2025 Fees
Westbury Stud is pleased to announce the 2025 service fees for its high performing stallion roster, providing breeders with an accessible source of proven bloodlines at excellent value.
One to Watch – Curragh
He’s a Coolmore homebred blueblood, but sired by Darley’s champion stallion Dubawi and Officer opened his stakes account overnight at The Curragh winning the Listed Tetrarch Stakes (1m).
New 2YO SW for Redwood- Can Solidify do a Sharp 'n' Smart?
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.
$650,000 Stay Inside Filly Sets New Record at Inglis Weanling Sale
A new record price for the Australian Weanling Sale was set at Riverside today when a Stay Inside x Sheidel filly offered by Noorilim Park sold for $650,000.