The bubble well and truly burst for boom Perth sprinter State Solicitor who missed a place in last Saturday’s Group 1 $1m Crown Perth-Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.
Viddora, above, was the winner of the Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot. Photo by Jenny Barnes.
The Bob Peters owned State Solicitor was chasing his fourth win on the trot and was sent out as the equal $5 second favourite but got caught up in traffic in the straight and never threatened when eighth, four and a half lengths behind the Winterbottom Stakes winner Viddora.
Peters is still trying to dissect the run and if State Solicitor does well this week in the stable he will be keen to step the Nicconi five year old up to 1400m in the Group 3 $250,000 A.J. Scahill Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on December 16.
“I don’t know what to put it down to,” Peters told The West Australian.
“He pulled up all right and at some stage we’ve got to try him over 1400. It just depends on how he is this week.”
Perth’s leading jockey William Pike settled State Solicitor in the second half of the field from barrier four in the twelve horse field but ran into a dead end in the straight at a crucial stage before doing his best work over the concluding stages.
South Australian based Joe Bowditch on the other hand got the split at the right time on Viddora who went on to record her first Group 1 success.
Co-trainers Grant and Alana Williams had brought State Solicitor up through the ranks with nine wins from thirteen starts and connections will be hoping the gelding can find the winner’s stall again in the A.J. Scahill Stakes.
Winterbottom Stakes winning trainer Lloyd Kennewell will head back to Adelaide with Viddora who will then head to the Gold Coast in Queensland and be prepared for the Magic Millions Carnival in January.