New Zealand Racing, 2012-13

[_ed_]

First, yet another filly.

SORIANO

3 f Savabeel - Call Me Lily
Breeder: D Howell
Owner: D Howell
Trainer: Graeme & Debbie Rogerson
Jockey: ??? (was Opie Bosson, but he's gone for Castlzeberg)

14 starts
2 wins
4 seconds
2 thirds

Major races:
1st Eulogy Stakes G3
2nd Eight Carat Classic G2
2nd Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic G2
3rd Royal Stakes G2

Best replay to watch:
Eulogy Stakes, Awapuni, 15 December
http://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/4...ce-Detail.aspx

Derby odds: 14.00

+ Not further back than 3rd in her last six starts, all in stakes class.
+ Very stamina-heavy pedigree and running style.

- Again, the not-so-great record for fillies in the Derby in recent years.
- 0-3 against Fix this season, and she has to face that filly again here.
- Hasn't taken on the boys in a stakes race so far this season.

If it hadn't been for Fix, Soriano would probably be the dominant horse through the 3-year-old-filly races this summer - she just keeps being narrowly beaten by her. This could be her best chance of turning the tables on Fix, since it seems like the 2400m will suit her heaps better than it will Fix. But then there's Habibi and a big group of high-class male horses too, and she hasn't faced any of them yet. She could finish strongly into a minor placing, but it's just a bit hard to see her winning this one.