Solzhenitsyn started yet another successful afternoon for New Zealand bred gallopers at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Solzhenitsyn (5g St Petersburg – Tri Victory by Victory Dance) won the LR Strawberry Road Hcp (1600m) and trainer Robert Heathcote immediately labelled the gelding a candidate for Group 1 events at the Melbourne spring carnival.

“He could go straight for a spell or I may run him one more time in the Tatt’s Mile,” Heathcote said.  “Ultimately, we’re looking at the Emirates Stakes at Flemington in November.  And, although it sounds silly, I’m not ruling out a start in the Cox Plate!”

Solzhenitsyn (NZ) was a transferred to Heathcote following an Ellerslie victory in December 2010.  He has won 6 times in Brisbane taking his bank balance past $290,000 after being sold by Grande Vue Lodge for $10,000 as a foal at the 2007 NZ Bloodstock National Sale.

“I was a bit concerned when he settled three wide near the tail of the field,” Heathcote explained.  “I didn’t think he would get that far back but there was probably too much pressure early on.”

Solzhenitsyn is by Nureyev sire St Petersburg who was a G3 winner at Flemington for a syndicate that included Lindsay Park, Vinery and Swettenham Stud.  He stood at Grande Vue Lodge and Brighthill Farm during a moderately successful career at stud in New Zealand.

The (NZ) brand continued its winning run at the winter carnival with Brambles (Savabeel) in the G1 Queensland Derby.  He was a $100,000 purchase for Peter Moody at the 2010 NZB Karaka Sale.

Moody completed a feature treble at Eagle Farm on Saturday with Lights Of Heaven in the G2 Brisbane Cup.  The NZ bred daughter of Zabeel is raced by owner-breeder Judy Wanless.

Moody also won the G1 Stradbroke with Victorian bred mare Mid Summer Music (Oamaru Force).