Tag Archive for: Solario Stakes

A Bit Of Spirit shows plenty of heart in thrilling Solario finish

A Bit Of Spirit continued Clive Cox’s good recent run when coming out on top in a tremendous four-way finish to the BetMGM Solario Stakes at Sandown.

The most experienced runner in the field having had four previous starts, Rossa Ryan set out to put that experience to good use by heading to the front in the Group Three affair.

He looked something of a sitting duck two furlongs out, as Royal Ascot winner Humidity, Brian Meehan’s Oceans Four and eventually Pacific Avenue, who was off the bridle a long way from home, made it a four-way go, each of them briefly looking the likely winner at some stage.

Pacific Avenue was first to fold and finished a clear fourth, albeit beaten less than half a length, while Oceans Four was leaning into Humidity by now, but was marginally in front of him. A Bit Of Spirit battled back, however, and crucially had his head down where it mattered.

A photo was called, and it was Cox – who won a valuable prize at York last week with Song Of The Clyde – who heard his horse called the winner. Oceans Four crossed the line in second and the Andrew Balding-trained Humidity in third, but those placings were reversed by the stewards

Cox said: “He’s got remarkable courage and really digs deep. He’s so tough, I think he was beaten for a minute and has got back up and I’m so proud.

“We had no idea if he would cope with condition this easy and certainly we haven’t seen any ground like this all summer, but he’s all heart and so tough and I’m very pleased.

“He’s done nothing but improve with confidence and with that confidence he has displayed more ability, but the fighting quality has been there from the get go.

“Even on his first start he showed those qualities and even though he was quite green at that stage he’s got more battle-hardened now and is displaying more and more courage.

“Rossa was great there and he had all confidence he would handle the ground and it was proved rightly that was the case. I’m thrilled he’s taken this step today.”

A Bit Of Spirit holds a plethora of entries for top two-year-old contests in the latter stages of the season and Cox is now keen to continue aiming high.

He added: “I’m pleased to enjoy today and I think he’s a tough, hardy two-year-old so we can keep pushing with that in mind.

“Now we know he handles the ground we can plot accordingly and he’s got all the options wide open.

“He’s well entered and he’s in the Royal Lodge, but I’m not sure if we would prefer to stay at seven furlongs and he’s in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in France and all those races. I’m just thrilled we can discuss all the options and hopefully make the right decisions.

“From next year’s point of view, we probably stepped up to a mile early enough at Salisbury but the fact he can go on soft ground gives me confidence we can keep going this year and hopefully he may develop further next year.

“I’m delighted for the owners (Paul and Clare Rooney) who have been big supporters and it’s nice for them to have a horse like this for the big stage. It’s a joy to train nice horses for nice people and a privilege to make a living out of a passion really.”

Publish ruled out of Solario test at Sandown

Publish will not line up in Saturday’s BetMGM Solario Stakes at Sandown due to unsuitable ground.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt was due to be one of the headline acts in the Group Three contest after running an eyecatching race on debut at the Esher track, before returning to the same venue three weeks later to break his maiden.

However, with 16 millimetres of rain having fallen at Sandown on Friday morning, the going was changed to soft after the fifth race on the track’s afternoon card, prompting connections to withdraw the likely favourite.

His absence leaves Charlie Appleby’s Pacific Avenue as the new market leader after he inflicted a surprise defeat on stablemate Wild Desert when making a winning debut at Newmarket in June.

Charlie Appleby saddles Pacific Avenue in the Solario Stakes
Charlie Appleby saddles Pacific Avenue in the Solario Stakes (John Walton/PA)

Appleby, who has trained three previous Solario winners, said: “This is a race we have done well in in recent seasons, Pacific Avenue worked nicely on Saturday and the form of his last run has worked out very well.

“The second horse (Wild Desert) came out and was third in the Superlative Stakes and the third, fourth and fifth have come out and won well, so we are going there with a horse that will hopefully be competitive.

“He hasn’t been out since winning his debut in June, but he is in good shape at home and we do feel that the seven furlongs at Sandown will suit him well.

“He is a horse we have always liked and if he could go and hopefully win on Saturday, we could look towards something like a Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere possibly, but that is pie in the sky stuff at the moment and the focus for now is on the Solario.”

Too Darn Hot colt He’s Waliim is an interesting contender for James Tate, turning out 17 days after blitzing his rivals by upwards of six lengths on his introduction at Beverley.

Tate said: “Obviously he was very impressive and he’s a horse we’re excited about, but we’re aware that we are throwing him in at the deep end somewhat, so fingers crossed he can swim.

“His home work had been very smart before Beverley so we were expecting him to win, but they don’t always run up to their homework, so it was nice that he did.

“It’s a field full of unknowns on Saturday and you don’t quite know whether you’re taking on next year’s Guineas winner or a horse that wins the Solario and doesn’t win another Group race, it can vary.

“But we’re happy with our horse, seven furlongs around a bend with a uphill finish and quick-ish ground should suit us down to the ground, so we’ll find out a lot.”

Humidity winning the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot
Humidity winning the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Other hopefuls include Andrew Balding’s Chesham winner Humidity, who bids to bounce back from a disappointing effort in Goodwood’s Vintage Stakes, and Clive Cox’s A Bit Of Spirit, who has won twice and finished second twice in four starts.

Richard Brown, adviser to Humidity’s owners Wathnan Racing, said: “Andrew seems very happy with him and he said he has worked particularly well since Goodwood.

“I don’t think the track suited him particularly well at Goodwood and I’m hoping Sandown and the stiff seven will be more to his liking as I think he will get further in time.

“This is obviously a very strong renewal, as you would expect, but I think the race will set up much better for him than at Goodwood and he will be hitting the line strong.”

Of A Bit Of Spirit, Cox said: “He’s in very good form. He stepped up to a mile last time at Salisbury in the Stonehenge and was beaten by a very nice horse (Morris Dancer).

“We’ll be very happy to step back to seven furlongs at Sandown, he’s in great nick and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Publish aiming to stamp authority on classy Solario field

Publish has some big boots to fill when he bids to provide his connections with back-to-back victories in the BetMGM Solario Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.

A huge eyecatcher when second on his debut at the Esher venue in early July, John and Thady Gosden’s juvenile comfortably went one better on his return three weeks later and now faces a step up to Group Three level over the same course and distance this weekend.

The Gosdens and owner-breeders Juddmonte not only teamed up to land the Solario with Publish’s sire Kingman in 2013, but also struck gold with this year’s Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes scorer Field Of Gold 12 months ago, so it is no surprise that hopes for their latest candidate are high.

“The Solario is a race that has had a big roll of honour and Publish is a horse we like. He looked good in his two maidens runs, so we’re looking forward to seeing what way he can step up into Group company in what looks a deep enough renewal,” said Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon.

“He’s had a nice break since his last run and John and Thady picked this route, they’ve used it in the past, so we have to be hopeful that he should be capable of a good run, all being well.”

Gosden senior has saddled a record seven winners of this race in all, with Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Raven’s Pass (2007) and multiple Group One winner Too Darn Hot (2018) also among them.

Field Of Gold winning last year's Solario Stakes
Field Of Gold winning last year’s Solario Stakes (Steven Paston/PA)

Mahon added: “I think it’s John’s go-to race if he has a nice horse and I’m sure if you look back through the years, there’s plenty there that didn’t win too.

“But if he has a nice two-year-old it seems to be his preferred route, so let’s hope he’s good enough to continue the good run.

“As we know October is action-packed for two-year-olds, so we’ll find out whether we’re good enough to compete in one of the big races or whether you have to lower your sights a little bit.”

Charlie Appleby counts subsequent Derby hero Masar (2017) among his three previous Solario winners and is this year represented by Pacific Avenue, who inflicted a surprise defeat on stablemate Wild Desert when making a winning debut at Newmarket in June.

Charlie Appleby saddles Pacific Avenue in the Solario Stakes
Charlie Appleby saddles Pacific Avenue in the Solario Stakes (John Walton/PA)

“This is a race we have done well in in recent seasons, Pacific Avenue worked nicely on Saturday and the form of his last run has worked out very well,” said Appleby.

“The second horse (Wild Desert) came out and was third in the Superlative Stakes and the third, fourth and fifth have come out and won well, so we are going there with a horse that will hopefully be competitive.

“He hasn’t been out since winning his debut in June, but he is in good shape at home and we do feel that the seven furlongs at Sandown will suit him well.

“He is a horse we have always liked and if he could go and hopefully win on Saturday, we could look towards something like a Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere possibly, but that is pie in the sky stuff at the moment and the focus for now is on the Solario.”

Too Darn Hot colt He’s Waliim is an interesting contender for James Tate, turning out 17 days after blitzing his rivals by upwards of six lengths on his introduction at Beverley.

Tate said: “Obviously he was very impressive and he’s a horse we’re excited about, but we’re aware that we are throwing him in at the deep end somewhat, so fingers crossed he can swim.

“His home work had been very smart before Beverley so we were expecting him to win, but they don’t always run up to their homework, so it was nice that he did.

“It’s a field full of unknowns on Saturday and you don’t quite know whether you’re taking on next year’s Guineas winner or a horse that wins the Solario and doesn’t win another Group race, it can vary.

“But we’re happy with our horse, seven furlongs around a bend with a uphill finish and quick-ish ground should suit us down to the ground, so we’ll find out a lot.”

Humidity winning the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot
Humidity winning the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)

Other hopefuls include Andrew Balding’s Chesham winner Humidity, who bids to bounce back from a disappointing effort in Goodwood’s Vintage Stakes, and Clive Cox’s A Bit Of Spirit, who has won twice and finished second twice in four starts.

Richard Brown, adviser to Humidity’s owners Wathnan Racing, said: “Andrew seems very happy with him and he said he has worked particularly well since Goodwood.

“I don’t think the track suited him particularly well at Goodwood and I’m hoping Sandown and the stiff seven will be more to his liking as I think he will get further in time.

“This is obviously a very strong renewal, as you would expect, but I think the race will set up much better for him than at Goodwood and he will be hitting the line strong.”

Of A Bit Of Spirit, Cox said: “He’s in very good form. He stepped up to a mile last time at Salisbury in the Stonehenge and was beaten by a very nice horse (Morris Dancer).

“We’ll be very happy to step back to seven furlongs at Sandown, he’s in great nick and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Sat TV Trends: 30th Aug 2025

More LIVE horse racing action this weekend as the ITV cameras head to Sandown, Chester and Beverley – we’ve got it all covered with the key trends and stats to help you whittle down the runners and find the best profiles of past winners.

Chester Horse Racing Trends

2:40 Virgin Bet Chester Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (3yo+) 1m 6 1/2f ITV

11/12 – Aged 6 or younger
10/12 – Returned 7/1 or shorter in the betting
10/12 – Have 4 or less past wins
10/12 – Drawn in stalls 5 or lower
10/12 – Ran in the last 6 weeks
10/12 – Won over 1m4f+ in the past
9/12 – Carried 9-5 or less in weight
9/12 - Didn’t win last time out
9/12 – Favourites placed in the top 3
8/12 – Aged 5 or younger
5/12 – Ran at either Ascot (3) or Newmarket (2) last time out
5/12 – Aged 3 years-old
4/12 – Had run at Chester before (2 won)
4/12 – Winning favourites
2/12 – Trained by Andrew Balding (2 of the last 7)
2/12 – Trained by Ralph Beckett (2 of the last 4 )
3 of the last 5 winners from stall 1
6 of the last 8 winners from stall 3 or lower

3:15 Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+) 7 1/2f ITV

8/9 – Drawn between 3-7
8/9 – Aged 4-6
2/9 – Trained by Richard Hannon (2 of the last 6)
2/9 – Trained by Richard Fahey (2 of the last 7)
2/9 – Won by jockey Tom Eaves (2 of the last 4)
2/9 – Winning favourites (1 joint)
The average winning SP in the last 9 runnings is 17/2
Two Tempting won the race last year (11/1)

Beverley Horse Racing Trends

1:30 - William Hill Silver Cup Handicap Cl2 (3yo 0-105) 1m2f ITV

14/14 - Returned 9/1 or shorter in the betting
12/14 - Ran in the last 6 weeks
10/14 - Carried 9st or less in weight
10/14 - Drawn in stalls 4 or lower
10/14 - Finished 1st or 2nd last time out
10/14 - Favourites placed
10/14 - Placed in the top 3 last time out
9/14 - Irish bred
5/14 - Winning favourite
4/14 - Ran at Newmarket last time out
2/14 - Trained by Richard Fahey
2/14 - Trained by Karl Burke

2:05 - William Hill Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (3yo+) 5f ITV

14/14 - Previous winners over 5f
14/14 - Returned 10/1 or shorter
13/14 - Aged 4 or older
13/14 - Rated 100+
12/14 - Had won 5+ races before
11/14 - Aged 5 or older
11/14 - Placed favourites
11/14 - Ran in the last 4 weeks
11/14 - Ran at Ascot (5), York (3) or Goodwood (3) last time
9/14 - Drawn in stalls 4 or lower
8/14 - Had run at the track before
4/14 - Winning favourite
3/14 – Trained by Clive Cox (3 of the last 4)
2/14 - Ridden by Jamie Spencer
10 of the last 12 winners drawn 7 or lower
7 of the last 11 winners drawn 4 or lower

SANDOWN Horse Racing Trends (ITV/RacingTV)

1.50 – Download The BetMGM App Handicap Cl3 (3yo+ 0-90) 7f ITV

Just 4 previous runnings
4/4 – Drawn 6 or lower
4/4 – Aged between 3-5
3/4 – Carried 9-11 or more in weight
2/4 – Aged 4
2/4 – Winning favourites
2/4 – Drawn in stall 6
2/4 – Ridden by Oisin Murphy
Trainer James Ferguson has a 33% SR with his runners at Sandown
Trainer William Haggas has a 26% SR with his runners at Sandown
Trainer Eve Johnson Houghton is just 2-from-51 with her runners at the track

2.25 –BetMGM Atalanta Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) Cl1 1m14y ITV

19/23 – Had 3 or more runs that season
17/23 – Winning distance 1 1/2 or less
17/23 – Had won over a mile before
16/23 – Priced 9/2 or shorter
15/23 – Aged 3 years-old
14/23 – Rated between 98 and 108
14/23 – Had won a Listed or Group class race
13/23 – Placed last time out
13/23 – Had won 3 or more times before
9/23 – Winning favourites
7/23 – Won last time out
7/23 – Had run at Sandown before
5/23 – Ran at Ascot last time out
5 of the last 8 winners from stall 3
3 of the last 9 winners Cheveley Park owned
The last 11 winners were aged 3 or 4 years-old

3.00 - Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog at betmgm.co.uk Handicap Cl2 (3yo+) 1m2f ITV

12/12 – Aged 3, 4 or 5
11/12 – Carried 9-1 or less in weight
11/12 – Ran in the last 4 weeks
11/12 – Won over at least 1m2f before
10/12 – Carried 8-12 or less in weight
10/12 – Won between 1-4 times before
9/12 – Top 5 finish last time out
9/12 – Unplaced favourites
9/12 – Rated between 82-95
6/12 – Had run at the track before
5/12 – Ridden by a claiming jockey
5/12 – Won last time out
3/12 – Ran at Newmarket last time out
1/12 – Winning favourites
4 of the last 7 winners came from stall 3
Flying Frontier won the race in 2024
Trainer James Tate has a 31% record with his horses at the track
Trainer William Haggas has a 26% record with his horses at the track

3.35 –BetMGM Solario Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 7f16y ITV

22/23 – Had won at least one race before
21/23 – Never raced at Sandown before
21/23 – Had won over 6 or 7f before
20/23 – Foaled in Jan, Feb or March
17/23 – Placed favourites
16/23– Won last time out
15/23 – Had 2 or more previous runs
14/23 – Had won over 7f before
12/23 – Winning favourites
10/23 – Ran at Newmarket last time out
7/23 – Won by trainer John Gosden (3 of the last 7)
3/23 – Trained by Charlie Appleby (3 of the last 8)
Trainer Charlie Appleby has a 33% record with this 2 year-olds at the track
The last 5 winners came ALL from stall 5
James Doyle has ridden 2 of the last 8
John Gosden and Charlie Appleby have won 6 of the last 8 (last 4) between them
Andrew Balding has won 2 of the last 9

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Publish in line for what could prove highly-informative Solario Stakes

Publish is on course to return to the familiar territory of Sandown after he stood out among a stellar set of names entered for the BetMGM Solario Stakes on Saturday.

The son of Kingman was edged out on debut at the Esher track in July, but soon set the second straight when impressing back at Sandown later that month and heads into this Group Three event with his star firmly on the rise.

John and Thady Gosden’s colt is already as short as 10-1 in places for next year’s 2000 Guineas and could now follow in the footsteps of both his father and Clarehaven stablemate Field Of Gold by claiming the Solario.

Barry Mahon, European racing manager for owners Juddmonte, said: “This was the initial plan and hopefully that remains the same so we will look forward to seeing him again.

“He’s a beautiful horse, a very big horse and he’s probably more of a three-year-old type. John and Thady have both said he’s not a horse to over-race this year, he’s all about next year.

“He could be exciting, I know he has only won a maiden but we’re hopeful he is able to make the jump into the next grade.”

It was one of Charlie Appleby’s string that denied Publish on debut and the Moulton Paddocks handler could unleash stylish Newmarket novice winner Pacific Avenue in a race he won with subsequent Derby hero Masar in 2017).

Other notables in the 11-strong possibles list include Andrew Balding’s Chesham winner Humidity and the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Zanthos.

The latter, a daughter of Sioux Nation, cost €1million at the breeze-up sales earlier in the year and it was easy to see why as she scorched to a three-length victory in her July course debut.

She could now be a rare filly to take on the colts in this race, as her team search for the right opportunity to set up high-ranking events later in the season.

“She’s super well and we still haven’t quite figured out what we’re doing with her yet,” said Ed Crisford.

“The fillies’ races at the Curragh (Debutante Stakes) and Goodwood (Prestige Stakes) came a bit quick for her and it would have been bringing her back just two weeks later.

“We’re happy to enter in the Solario against the colts and then see what we think and there’s also novice options.

“We want to run her again before the Rockfel if we can and we just need to take it step by step.”