Happy owners and guests
SOLARIO RACING played host to owners and guests yesterday with hospitality at the first day of Newbury’s Dubai Duty Free week end and a wonderful afternoon was had by all on an unseasonably warm, autumnal afternoon.
As ever on Solario Racing hospitality days at the Berkshire track, the day began in the Racegoers’ Restaurant with a champagne reception as guests poured over the form and the Racing Manager’s tips for an eight-race card. The big question of the day was, would Frankie win on his only ride of the day on the odds-on favourite, Cape Palace in the 3.25, a Conditions race for two-year-olds?
Dancinginthewoods
Form study certainly went out of the window in the first race of the day, the first division of a 6f 2yo maiden as the winner was 33/1 shot, Theotherside, ridden by Pat Dobbs for trainer, Richard Hannon. None of the 15 guests had that selection in the Solario Racing tipster competition! Some normality to proceedings was restored when the 9/4 favourite, Smokey Bear won the second division, beating the second favourite, River Nymph.
The food is always excellent in the Racegoers Restaurant and as ever, the champagne and wine flowed. We all went down to the paddock for the fourth race of the afternoon, The Dubai Duty Free Nursery Handicap, as Solario Racing’s Dancinginthewoods was one of the 11 runners. Though he looked well in the paddock, he ran way below form as the well watered ground made conditions loose on top and he never looked happy in the race. The 2yo colt was reported by Joey Haynes to have never travelled.
Quadrilateral – in a class of her own
Half an hour later and punters came in for another surprise when Frankie’s mount, Cape Palace was turned over at odds of 1/2. In fact only two favourites won all day and three races were won by horses at double figure prices.
Performance of the afternoon was undoubtedly Quadrilateral’s nine-length victory in the 7f Conditions race and she is now favourite for next year’s 1000 Guineas.
As for the tipster competition, an embarrassed yours truly won but could not really accept the money, so donated it to charity.
A great afternoon’s racing was enjoyed by all, “Woody” lives to fight another day and a local charity for the homeless, DENS, was better off at the end of the afternoon by £150.
