The Solario Stakes is one of two Group 3 races on the Sandown card on Saturday, with this race solely for 2YO’s. The race has been won by some top class youngsters in recent years, including Kingman (2013) and Masar (2017).
Charlie Appleby won it for the second time in six years with his runner Silver Knott in 2022, and sends Aablan in a bid to retain his crown. He faces a stiff challenge from the likes of Starlore and Mortlake, with the former sired by 2013 Solario Stakes winner Kingman.
GG editor Jake Russell previews the race, looking at the key trends for the racing before running through the runners and giving his expert verdict on who he’s backing to come out on top.
Last year’s renewal went the way of Charlie Appleby’s SILVER KNOTT, who ran out a comfortable winner ahead of Wahaaj and Desert Hero:
Key Trends
- 7 of the last 12 winners were favourites, 12 of the last 12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting.
- 9 of the last 12 winners won on their last run before the Solario Stakes, 10 of the last 12 winners had their last run within the last 49 days.
- 10 of the last 12 winners had at least 1 previous run over 7 furlongs, 8 of the last 12 winners had at least 1 previous win over 7 furlongs.
- 12 of the last 12 winners had at least 1 previous flat run, 8 of the last 12 winners had at least 2 previous flat runs, 12 of the last 12 winners had at least 1 previous flat win.
- 4 of the last 12 winners had a rating of 94 or higher (8 of the last 12 didn’t have a rating)
- 8 of the last 12 winners had at least 2 runs that season, 12 of the last 12 winners had at least 1 previous win that season.
Runner-By-Runner Guide
1. AABLAN
(Charlie Appleby/James Doyle)
Last years winning connections of Charlie Appleby and Godolphin, James Doyle takes the ride on their runner again this year, a race that the jockey and trainer combo won with Masar in 2017 before he went on to Derby glory the following season. This race has popped up some top class prospects in the past, including Kingman, Masar and Too Darn Hot to just name a few. Aablan was a well fancied winner on debut at Newmarket, sent off well odds on favourite, he was held up in midfield during the race before staying on well down the home straight, edging left from time to time. That was a comfortable performance, and obviously there is more improvement expected from the son of Dubawi, and he is perfect bred for further trips next season onwards. His Racing Post Rating from his debut was the same as the market leader, and given his connections, it wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility that he improves enough to win this contest. No matter the outcome of this race, he is very much one to keep an eye on the further in trip he goes.
2. CERULEAN BAY
(David O’Meara/Jason Watson)
One of the only runners in this contest who currently has a BHA Rating, which currently sits at 87. Looking at the previous statistics that is a little lower than what it takes to win this race, as previously mentioned there have been some very decent horses win this race previously, but the one main thing he has in his favour is race experience. A winner over 6 furlongs at Hamilton back in June, where he ran on well to win by a nose, before going on to step up in trip up to 7 furlongs at Ayr where he beat Individualism by three quarters of a length, with that form not being franked since. He looked a lot more comfortable last time when running at 7 furlongs, and judging by his breeding an even further step up in trip will most likely bring even more out of this horse. However he arrives into this race off the back of a 54+ day break, and is about 7lb’s off the previous horses that had a rating who have won this contest in the past, so he needs to improve a fair bit to land this against some very nicely bred types.
3. DEVIL’S POINT
(David Menuisier/Oisin Murphy)
An interesting runner who doesn’t have the “flashy” owner as per say, which probably suggests why he isn’t a short price in the market, when he probably deserves to be. The David Menuisier colt was only 5th on debut in the Sandown contest that Starlore won, but when you look back at the race he was very slowly away, and was a little green throughout the race, drifting left inside the closing stages, so looked to have needed to learn a lot next time to land a blow no matter the contest, and it looked as if he did. Next time out he contested in a Maiden contest at Ffos-Las over 7 furlongs, where the son of New Bay was sent off odds on favourite, and he duly obliged the market support by winning very comfortably indeed by just over 4 lengths. He travelled very strongly indeed, and when shaken up with a furlong or so to go he pulled well clear, winning readily. Now that was just a ordinary Maiden contest, but the 3rd place horse has since won and looks another nice type in the making, however Devil’s Point will need to improve even further against these well bred sorts.
4. INISHFALLEN
(Brian Meehan/Sean Levey)
The most experienced runner in this field, with four runs to his name already, although he is lightly raced compared to other horses in training, he does look slightly more exposed against the rest of these. A good 6th on debut in a decent Newbury Novice won by Iberian, he followed that up with a nice performance to win a 6 furlong Maiden at Kempton next time out, beating Parker’s Piece by a length, keeping on well in the closing stages. He was then chucked in the deep end where he contested in a Listed contest at Newbury, finishing 5th but only beaten by 5 lengths with the jockey reporting the colt was hanging right handed under pressure. The son of Exceed And Excel then went on to run in a Nursery at York last week, where he broke slowly before running on well to claim 3rd spot, only beaten by just under a length. Given the fact he is pitched straight back in Patterned company, it may suggest connections think there is more to come from him against less experienced rivals, but he would arguably have to improve a little bit to land a blow on these, but he could put his experience to good use if he breaks on terms with them.
5. MORTLAKE
(Ralph Beckett/Rossa Ryan)
It’s no secret that the Ralph Beckett horses are going great guns this season, as the yards runners currently operate at a 32% strike rate for the last 14 days, with Rossa Ryan who is booked to ride Mortlake enjoying a very productive season of his own thanks to his partnership with Ralph Beckett this season. Their runner in this contest currently holds the highest racing post ratings in the race, after a decent but babyish first run at Salisbury, breaking slowly, showing signs of greenness throughout and was very well beaten, at that point you would never think he could be as short as he is for a Group 3 on just his third career run. But it was his performance last time out just 20 days ago that really caught the eye, breaking much better and not running as green throughout, getting pestered at the front end for the lead, before managing to get his head in front with 2 furlongs to go, and the rest of the field didn’t see him for dust there onwards, as he pulled 5 lengths clear to win. Obviously he learnt a lot from his debut run, and looked more like the full article, with more improvement to come you would expect. He is quite interesting, and given the yards form at present, it would be no surprise should Mortlake win this contest on Saturday.
6. STARLORE
(Sir Michael Stoute/Ryan Moore)
Probably the most interesting runner in the field, the one that most will come to see and expect to win this contest due to his trainer, connections and who is booked to ride, Ryan said in his Betfair column that given he only won by a nose on debut, he was quite impressed with how he done it. The form in behind on that Sandown debut is decent, with the third Arabian Crown winning twice since then, and Devil’s Point who he re-opposes here today winning nicely at Ffos-Las, the form isn’t electric but they are 2yo’s who are still learning their trades, so it is decent enough, arguably better form than most. The Sir Michael Stoute son of Kingman has some decent siblings and is very well bred, and although only won by a nose on debut at Sandown in July, he done it well considering he was green throughout the race and idled when hitting the front, probably getting to the front to soon, but he stuck his neck out and beat off the rallying brigade. There would be expected improvement to come from him, and judging by what connections have said, he is definitely good enough to run well in a contest of this nature at this stage in his career. However the one slight concern is the form of the yards horses, just one winner in 13 runners for the last two weeks, the Stoute horses definitely have been running off sorts at times this season.
Big-Race Verdict
Although on paper it doesn’t have many runners, it is still quite a decent contest and I feel the winner of the race will go onto massive things moving forward. Starlore could be anything, and certainly has the profile to go onto bigger and better things the more he races, but I just can’t look past last years winning connections with Aablan. Godolphin aren’t have the best of seasons with no big festival winners this term, but they are obviously going through a transitional period looking for that new star, and I think this son of Dubawi could be it. He was a nice winner on debut at Newmarket when well fancied, which should say it all really, and I expect more to come from him, with the previous trends of this race very much being in his favour, a winner over 7 furlongs just 35 day sago. He would be the one to side with, in what looks another nice spare ride for James Doyle with Will Buick at Chester to ride Military Order, in a race that Charlie Appleby clearly targets with his 2yo’s.
SELECTION: Aablan – To Win (4/1 Best Price)
- Aablan
- Starlore
- Devil’s Point
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