Solario after whom the Solario Stakes is named
SOLARIO RACING takes its name from one of the great horses of the 1920s and one of the first important syndicate horses, Solario and today sees the running of the Solario Stakes at Sandown, a Group 3 juvenile race over seven furlongs, first run in 1947.
Ten colts go to post for this prestigious race (3.05pm), which has produced many subsequent Group One winners including the great Oh So Sharp, one of four winners trained by Henry Cecil in the 80s, In the last decade winners have included Raven’s Pass and Kingman, who went on to win four Group Ones as a three-year-old. But who will win today’s renewal?
The Queen has an interesting runner in Seniority, trained by Willie Haggas. Winner of his maiden at Newmarket, although it was only a four-runner affair, it looked a decent race and the odds-on runner up, Zefferino is by Frankel and well-regarded. Seniority was quite green on his debut, so there should be more to come for this 9/1 shot.
The 3/1 favourite is South Seas, winner of his first two starts for Andrew Balding and representing owners, Qatar Racing Limited. An exciting son of Lope De Vega, he holds Group One entries in the Middle Park and Dewhurst.
Richard Hannon runs two, Repton, who has the highest rating (103) and the less exposed Eqtiraan, winner of his sole start and owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum.
Whoever wins is sure to go on to better things. Whether he ends up as good and as famous a horse as Solario is unlikely but he’s sure to be a horse worth following.
