Solar Charged has been rated a superior racehorse to her Group One-winning sire Charge Forward by the one person who knows them best - trainer John O'Shea.In a surprising assessment on the eve of Solar Charged's season return in the Group Three San Domenico Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, O'Shea was matter-of-fact when asked for a comparison between father and daughter."At this stage she is probably a little bit better than he was," he said.Under O'Shea's care, Charge Forward earned a reputation

Solar Charged has been rated a superior racehorse to her Group One-winning sire Charge Forward by the one person who knows them best - trainer John O'Shea.

In a surprising assessment on the eve of Solar Charged's season return in the Group Three San Domenico Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, O'Shea was matter-of-fact when asked for a comparison between father and daughter.

"At this stage she is probably a little bit better than he was," he said.

Under O'Shea's care, Charge Forward earned a reputation as a serious sprinter in two seasons of racing which netted four wins and $1.2 million in earnings.

He was runner-up in the 2004 Golden Slipper before being retired as an autumn three-year-old after winning the Group One Galaxy.

In between, he resumed to claim the San Domenico Stakes when he lined up against four rivals in what turned out to be a form race for the ages.

The runner-up Fastnet Rock went on to win two Group One sprints, third placegetter Dance Hero parlayed his Sydney juvenile triple crown form into a Group One Salinger Stakes success and the fourth horse to finish, Savabeel, won the WS Cox Plate less than three months later.

If the early betting is right, Solar Charged will emulate her father's 2004 heart-stopping victory while there is a precedent for one San Domenico winner to sire another through General Nediym (1997) and his daughter Regimental Gal (2003).

Solar Charged earned San Domenico favouritism with a barrier trial win that left O'Shea almost lost for words when she posted a 7-1/2-length margin without a single twitch of encouragement from jockey Corey Brown.

Most O'Shea horses trial in a conservative manner but the trainer has a simple explanation for the runaway win.

"Corey couldn't hold her. She couldn't go any slower," he said.

Solar Charged was TAB Sportsbet's $2.20 favourite on Friday to make a winning return and while the odds might not be to O'Shea's liking, he is as upbeat as he can be ahead of a stakes race.

Even the uncertainty created by a wet track can't dent his confidence.

"I think the Randwick track is playing very well," he said. "I don't have any concerns about it holding up again."

Golden Slipper runner-up Decision Time was $4.20 second pick for the San Domenico ahead of Gai Waterhouse's Brightexpectations at $4.60.