David Pfieffer confident Soami still has more to offer

David Pfieffer is optimistic the decision to rehabilitate Soami following a leg issue will eventually reward his connections as the rising eight-year-old prepares to return to the races for the first time in twelve months.
The winner of eight of his 45 starts and more than $430,000 in prizemoney, Soami has already been a wonderful money-spinner for his owners.
He scored back-to-back Midway Handicap wins in July last year and was racing in some of the best form of his career when a leg problem flared, sidelining him for most of the 2023-24 season.
While that might mean the end of the road for many horses of Soami's vintage, Pfieffer said the fact the gelding had been a late maturer, combined with strong prizemoney levels in Sydney, convinced connections to persevere.
"You wouldn't hold his age against him, he's still prancing around like he's a toddler," Pfieffer said.
"He is one of those horses who has got a little bit better each preparation.
"With a horse of his age, reasonably sound who has put about $400,000 in the bank, they're hard to replace and the prizemoney in Sydney is so lucrative it's hard to give up easily."
Soami will step out for the first time since August last year in the Schweizer Kobras Lawyers Handicap (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
His best form is over slightly further so Pfieffer isn't expecting a winning return, but he will be looking for a positive run.
"The 1000 metres is obviously going to be a bit short of his best, but it's a nice starting point for him," he said.
"He will be back in the field and I expect to see him working home nicely."
Pfieffer is hoping the Sunshine Coast track dries out from it's current heavy 10 rating for fellow stable stalwart Rocketing By, who is set to contest the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) on Sunday.
The race was scheduled for last weekend but was postponed due to deteriorating conditions and if the track surface did improve, Pfieffer said his Eye Liner Stakes runner-up was going well enough to feature in the finish again.
"He's a very simple horse to train, you've just got to get things to fall into place, moreso the tracks," Pfieffer said
"He loves it in between a (soft) five and a seven, so we really need this track to improve for us."
More Racing News
Baraqiel to trial blinkers for Newmarket Handicap push
Baraqiel faces an uphill battle with the weights in pursuit of success in one of the nation's premier short-distance contests, the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.Post-1973 metric weight implementation, merely three runners have prevailed in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) carrying more than 57.5kg, with the race set for Saturday.In...
Green Spaces earns Rachel King's trust for Randwick Guineas tilt
Returning from a triumphant riding spell in Japan, Rachel King has her eyes set on the Sydney autumn series, with a key engagement aboard the inexperienced three-year-old gelding Green Spaces in the Randwick Guineas.The esteem in which King views the Bjorn Baker stable's charge prompted her to jet in from...
Fortunes due to improve for backmarker Bauhinia
Bauhinia, known for settling towards the rear naturally, has often lacked the rub of the green in her races.Co-trainer Lee Curtis expects the mare to see her luck change for the better over autumn, kicking off in Saturday's Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) at Randwick."Her work has been as good as...
Gibbons lands timely Linebacker mount after Rosehill breakthrough
An ordinary benchmark contest at Rosehill back in July evolved into a career highlight for Dylan Gibbons, setting him up to steer star performer Linebacker in the Group One Canterbury Stakes.The promising jockey, mere months removed from shoulder surgery, had steered Good Banter to victory in that midwinter feature.Post-race, he...
Augustus and Desert Hero debut in Flemington feature
While the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington doesn't carry the weight of the day's opening races, it has the potential to highlight future stars for major events ahead.Ciaron Maher will launch two newcomers from overseas in the Saturday 2000m race – Augustus and Desert Hero.Desert Hero already has Australian experience,...
Robbie Griffiths plans VRC Sires' Produce Stakes tilt with Almost An Angel
For the youngsters, the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes provides the debut opportunity to tackle a genuine journey.Now that the Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria's top juvenile prize, has been run and captured last month, attention shifts for the fast two-year-olds to the Golden Slipper up in Sydney.Robbie Griffiths, however, set his...
Ipswich Friday features prepared Sir Maurice
With an advantageous claim on weight and a competitor set for a win, Jack Bruce is eager for Sir Maurice to perform at Ipswich this coming Friday.Marking his fifth run this campaign, the five-year-old offspring of champion Japanese sire Maurice enters the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) for an...
Blinkers and McDonald for Hidrix in key Todman Stakes before Golden Slipper
Hidrix, once the top pick for the Golden Slipper, faces two major tweaks for his engagement in the Todman Stakes at Randwick: blinkers fitted and James McDonald in the saddle.Although McDonald guided stable companion Confederation during the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) Hidrix won and the Silver Slipper (1100m), he'll switch to...
Filly Caffe Florian emerges as next talent for Richard Litt
Though Richard Litt runs a modest team in numbers, he has proven adept at pinpointing quality performers.Responsible for training dual Group 1 champion Castelvecchio and Profondo's 2021 Spring Champion Stakes success, the Warwick Farm conditioner now seems to hold a fresh prospect in developing filly Caffe Florian.The three-year-old by Snitzel...
Waller's entrants set for All-Star Mile at Flemington
Leading handler Chris Waller embraces the All-Star Mile format since its promotion to Group 1.Launched back in 2019, the All-Star Mile moved between key Melbourne venues and mirrored Japan's Arima Kinen by letting the public choose their top pick.Changes were implemented in later years, and Waller entered sparingly.Securing Group 1...









