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By Ray Hickson

Unless there’s a rare dead heat, stablemates Solitario and Peninsula won’t both be able to win Saturday’s TAB Highway (1400m) at Rosehill but co-trainer Paul Messara is confident they are winners in waiting at that level.

Trainer Paul Messara (Pic: Steve Hart).

In the case of Solitario, who already has a Highway placing to his name, he could emerge as a contender to defend the stable’s Country Championships win in 2026.

Messara, who co-trains with Leah Gavranich, said while Solitario is nearing the end of his prep he only has to hold his form from two weeks ago to be in the finish and he rates Peninsula as a horse who will excel as the distances increase.

“I’ve always had a high opinion of the horse, he’s been a bit of a slow maturer and I think his next prep will be his best,’’ Messara said of Solitario.

“He’s improving with every run and if he gets the right circumstances I can see him rating well in one of these races and winning one of them well.”

Solitario, $4.80 with TAB on Wednesday, ran third behind Unreachable in a close finish at Rosehill two weeks ago over the same distance as Saturday’s contest.

He drew barrier one on that occasion and it may have been his undoing and Messara said Nash Rawiller will be aware of the need to put the gelding into the clear at the right time.

“I thought his run was great, I thought he should have won,’’ he said.

“If he’d got clear running at the top of the straight he would have been hard to hold out.

“He’s been up for a while, that’s the only query, but he hasn’t shown any signs of training off.

“It was first time with the blinkers on last time, I don’t think he will race as keenly as last time and Nash is on top. He’s a horse that builds momentum, if we get a clear run from the top of the straight he’ll be very competitive.”

Peninsula makes his Highway debut having won three on end with his two wins this preparation coming at Muswellbrook over 1280m and Scone at 1300m.

He said ultimately at least a mile will be the Snitzel gelding’s sweet spot so he’s expecting Peninsula to have a good platform to measure up.

“He’s done nothing wrong. We ran him over 1300m at Scone and he got the job done but I reckon 1400m is more suitable for him,’’ Messara said.

“He’s definitely progressive, he’s genuine and an easy horse to train. Those horses you learn more about when racing because he goes through the motions at home.”

Meanwhile, with a slot in The Kosciuszko locked away, Messara said classy mare Clear Thinking will step out publicly in a trial next week as her preparation builds toward the $2 million race.

He said it’s possible she’ll go into the race first-up but plenty will hinge on the trial.

Solitario runs third at Rosehill on August 30

“She had a good gallop (Wednesday) morning and worked nicely,’’ he said.

“She’ll have a genuine hitout next Wednesday at Muswellbrook then we’ll decide what we do from then. I’m undecided but I’ll know a lot more.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting