Briefs for 24th December 2014

Decision looming on The Solitaire’s future; Changes to jump racing; Doomben to host Group One feature.

Decision looming on The Solitaire’s future

D-Day is looming for the Group One mare The Solitaire.

The seven-year-old has been below her best in her last two appearances and trainer Steve Anderton said a decision would be made next month on her future.

“She’ll trial first to see whether she goes to the White Robe. We’ll see what she does with a bit of pressure on, otherwise she will be retired.”

The stakes winner of 10 races, The Solitaire finished third behind Costume and Shuka earlier this year in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes at Te Rapa.

Changes to jump racing

Handicapping changes and a restructure of prize money have been made to Australian jumping races in 2015.

Conditions of set weight and penalty races have increased the spread between the top and bottom-weighted horses from 5kg to 7kg.

The 2015 jumps season will start on March 10 at Warrnambool with a total of $A2.9 million in prize money on offer across 67 races, with a split of 44 hurdle races and 23 steeplechase races.

Doomben to host Group One feature

The Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap will be run at Doomben next year as renovations at Eagle Farm will not be completed in time.

The Queensland Oaks day programme has also been shifted to Doomben while the Tatts Tiara card will be run at the Gold Coast.

Racing Queensland CEO Darren Condon said the changes have been submitted to the Australian Pattern Committee, along with the distance changes required to run these races at the new tracks, for formal approval.

"We’ve been informed Eagle Farm will not be ready in time for next year’s carnival,” Condon said.

"Without the guarantee of it being ready, we made this decision as early as possible to give clubs and connections an opportunity to plan their winter programs.”