Can John Gosden win his fifth Solario Stakes of the decade on Saturday? Check out our guide to the Sandown Group Three.
The Solario Stakes, first run 70 years ago, remains a key late-season two-year-old race, which has held Group Three status since 1986.
Oh So Sharp might be the last Classic winner to have taken this seven-furlong contest, but as recently as 2013 it was won by Kingman, whose only defeat in a glittering eight-race career came when sent off 6/4 favourite for the 2000 Guineas.
A decade ago, Raven’s Pass marked himself out as a horse with a massive future here and so it proved. His three-year-old season and indeed career ended with victory at Santa Anita in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Here is a guide to this year’s field, which might just include another superstar from the John Gosden yard to enhance his already fine record in the race, while you can click here for all the latest Sky Bet odds.
Trainer: Hugo Palmer
Jockey: Ryan Moore
Form: 221
Beaten favourite when supported on debut and again came up short as a 6/4 chance behind Hey Gaman at Yarmouth. Benefited from a step up to this trip when a comfortable winner at Redcar but was entitled to take all the beating there and, while runner-up won last weekend, the form appears modest. Rated 86 and would need to find improvement to win.
Trainer: Clive Cox
Jockey: Adam Kirby
Form: 41
Both starts over course-and-distance, building on a fair debut to make all at the expense of a highly-touted John Gosden horse last time. Hard to know exactly what that six-length demolition job represents from a form perspective but could do no more than win as he liked and should be more to come. Wouldn’t mind a drop of rain.
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Sylvestre de Sousa
Form: 4118460
From owners who like to keep their horses busy and is accordingly the most exposed of these having had eight starts already. Looked good in the Woodcote back in June but well-held up in grade thereafter, until sights lowered with low-key Listed win in France two starts back. Better than he showed at York last week when in the wrong place at the wrong time but will surely find a few too good.
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: James Doyle
Form: 13
Impressive maiden winner at Goodwood on debut, sent off 5/2 favourite and accounting for a smart horse who has recently finished second in both the Gimcrack and the Molecomb, while also taking fourth in the July Stakes. That form alone makes Masar a worthy favourite and he did little wrong when third in the Chesham on sole subsequent start, staying on again having chased a fierce pace. Winner of that has had her reputation tarnished slightly but runner-up hasn’t and form looks strong. This hasn’t been a kind race to Godolphin but otherwise an obvious chance.
Trainer: John Gosden
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Form: 1
Well-backed winner of a Newbury maiden two weeks ago, getting up to win by a head under hands and heels having at one stage looked unlikely to figure. Clearly talented, then, and represents yard who’ve won this four times since the turn of the century, including with once-raced Kingman. Shorter in the betting for the 2000 Guineas than Masar and concedes only one run in terms of experience. Firmly in the ‘could-be-anything’ category and a danger to all.
Trainer: Kevin Condon
Jockey: Shane Foley
Form: 176
Highest-rated of these (107) after Group One sixth in the Phoenix Stakes last time, which followed a fair midfield run at Royal Ascot. Debut maiden win looks strong form, too, and dam was a mile winner to suggest that a step up from six furlongs will suit. Has been slowly away and played up before the start last time; wouldn’t want to be caught in the wrong position here.
Trainer: David Menuisier
Jockey: Jim Crowley
Form: 1
Eventful debut, unseating rider on the way down before sluicing through the mud to cause a 33/1 upset. Form not yet tested but upset some fancied Newmarket debutants that day and wouldn’t be keen to write it off as a soft-ground fluke without further evidence. Still asking a lot to get competitive here mind you.
Verdict
Connect looked very good when winning here last time at the expense of a John Gosden-trained hotpot, but the suspicion is that PURSER is perhaps the latter’s standout juvenile and he’s taken to gain revenge for the yard.
Yes, he’ll need to take a big step forward on his narrow maiden win at Newbury but that is almost guaranteed and the same connections took this race with Kingman back in 2013.
Gosden has been the dominant force in the Solario Stakes over the last decade or more and can secure a fifth win since the turn of the century with a potential Classic horse who has any amount of potential and was heavily supported on debut.
Godolphin have hit the crossbar in this race before and may do so again with Masar, whose form is solid and chance obvious. He’s been off since Royal Ascot but conditions look set to be ideal and he’s worthy of antepost favouritism.
Of those at bigger prices, watch for more improvement from Vintager while pick of the more exposed runners is Romanised, who boasts the highest official rating and is probably better than he showed when held up in the Phoenix.
1. Purser
2. Masar
3. Romanised