Tassort filly Soldi makes winning debut at Caulfield

Lindsay Park and the Punt Road Syndication team struck again in the Listed Debutant Stakes when Soldi edged Royal Press by a short head in the $175,000 juvenile feature at Caulfield.

The Tassort filly, a $310,000 Inglis Premier yearling purchase, fought on strongly under Blake Shinn to deny the $3 favourite Royal Press, an Alabama Express colt.

In a six-horse field, Soldi raced outside the leader Royal Press before the pair fought the race out in a stirring finish.

Co-trainer JD Hayes credited Soldi’s progression since a recent Caulfield barrier trial despite the narrow nature of the win

“We thought she’d taken nice improvement out of her trial here at Caulfield Heath the other day and she only got there by the barest of margins, but we’ll take it,” Hayes said.

The result continued a productive association with syndicate principals John O’Neill, Jay Steet and their team, who also celebrated with Torture in last year’s edition.

Soldi’s immediate program remains undecided, with Hayes weighing another appearance before Christmas against giving her time to develop.

“Whether she’s had enough before Christmas or whether we go again is a decision that we’ll have to make, because she does look like a real professional and has seriously got some speed there,” he said.

Soldi is out of the Flying Spur mare Spurs And Sashes and is a half-sister to Boston Rocks, a Listed winner during last year’s Victorian spring carnival.

Soldi is the fifth stakes winner for Newgate Farm’s Tassort.