On Track - Autumn 2021

14 Adam Chambers is not a familiar name to the average Friday night punter. The 32-year-old Warrnambool trainer is beginning to make tracks in the big smoke after acquiring speedy mare Lady Solly. Chambers has just over 200 race starts in his short training career to date but striking at a commendable 14%, he has produced 31 winners. His boutique stable consists of just six horses, and prior to Lady Solly, his best talent included honest seven-year-old veteran Tough Vic and highly untapped filly Kev’s Girl. He has only had Lady Solly since October of 2020, but already his newly appointed stable star is making an impression in the metro sprinting ranks after recording back-to-back city wins here at The Valley. Purchased for $800 as a yearling, the now five-year-old mare took her career earnings to $176,605, winning Heat 13 of the Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge on February 12. An incredible return on investment for her owners, the victory was also her second straight success in the 955m series after taking out Heat 10 on January 15. That ownership group comprises just two; Jacquie Hogan and Chris Guthrie will be glad they pressed on with the mare after a beginning that wasn’t always smooth sailing. From humble beginnings to back-to-back city wins, Chambers pointed out why the daughter of O’lonhro might have been overlooked in her early years. “She had a few injuries as a younger horse before she went to the yearling sales. “When she went to the sales, she had a few battle scars on her, and I think that played a part in why she was so cheap. “She had a scar, and still does on her chest, and also she had a bad injury on the heel of her front foot.” With no signs of those early injuries slowing her down, Lady Solly was able to reel off the fastest sectional of the February 12 meeting, running a sizzling 200m split of 10.13 between the 800m and 600m, before hitting the front 200m from home. SLICK SOLLY TOO FAST IN THE LADBROKES 55 SECOND CHALLENGE By Ben Caluzzi