Bernardini colt Solemn is Derby bound

Settling last in the run, talented Bernardini colt Solemn produced an eye-catching Derby trial sweeping down the outside of the field to win the Listed Geelong Classic in Austrlia by a length-and-a-half margin, defeating Any Given Saturday colt Malabar Man.

Coming from the tail of the field with three furlongs to go, Solemn was the widest runner as they rounded the home turn, but the Peter Snowden-trained colt gathered in the leaders to race away for an impressive effort.

A product of the Darley breeding operation, Solemn is bred to appreciate a Derby trip, being out of the Galileo mare Mead, a half-sister to the G1 Australasian oaks winner La Volta. Mead has a two-year-old Commands filly named Sima, a yearling filly by Bernardini and is due to foal to Exceed And Excel this season.

The sire of 16 Stakes winners including G1 winners To Honor And Serve, Stay Thirsty and Alpha, Bernardini is standing the current southern hemisphere breeding season at Darley Kelvinside in Australia before shuttling back to Jonabell.