Racing: Tricky decision for connections of Fix

It will be late tomorrow at the earliest that a decision on Fix's immediate racing campaign will be made.

Owner Gary Harding and trainers Bev and Ken Kelso are at a tricky crossroads after Fix's gallant victory in Saturday's $100,000 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic at Te Rapa.

It pretty much comes down to the choice of whether Fix goes forward to the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham, a race which could have a powerful influence on the Filly Of The Year series.

Fix leads the series after Saturday but Soriano, who finished second to her, can leapfrog Fix if she wins the Oaks.

''There are a number of things we have to weigh up,'' Ken Kelso said yesterday.

''Obviously, the series is a big part of that.''

The Kelsos and Harding are sharing lunch tomorrow, when a decision will be made.

An interesting part of the equation is whether Fix will cope with the step from Saturday's 2000m to the 2400m of the Oaks.

Watching the race live on Saturday, it appeared Fix was running on empty from the 175m and that she bravely held the opposition at bay.

After several replays of the finish it is easier to believe that even if Fix was doing her best, she was still comfortably holding the others.

If the connections decide the 2400m will not be an issue, there is always the option to pay a late entry fee into the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie, for which Fix was not an original entry.

According to the trainers, Fix came through what looked to be a tough race in exceptional order.

Co-trainer Graeme Rogerson was typically upbeat after Soriano's second.

''She'll beat the colts out of sight in the Derby,'' he said.

Sioriano is likely to contest the Oaks and the Derby.

Third-placed More Than Sacred will now head to the Oaks, according to co-trainer Tony Pike.

''We hadn't seriously considered it before, but she sat three wide in that race and still fought on so she's going to see out the 2400m at Trentham.''

By Mike Dillon.