Solario Stakes Guide 2021

John and Thady Gosden are in fantastic form of late with a 32% strike rate across the last 14 days whilst John Gosden has also accumulated the most prize money of any trainer at Sandown across the last 3 seasons.

Their entrant, Reach For The Moon, is a current well fancied favourite for the contest, odds on at the time of writing and the 2yo was a big improver from a 2nd placed finish at Yarmouth in a novice to finish runner-up once more at listed level in the Chesham (7f).

The Sea The Stars colt was dropped back down in grade to record a comfortable 4 length win at Newbury last time out ahead of Harrow, who has twice since franked the form.

The runner is entitled to plenty more improvement and the form of his 2nd placed Chesham run, half a length behind subsequent Group 3 winner, Point Lonsdale, sets the standard in this.

Frankie Dettori boasts an enormous 37% strike rate at Sandown across the last 3 seasons, paying further dividends to the runners chances.

Progeny of Sea The Stars boast a highly impressive 21% strike rate at the track.

Mark Johnston runs Austrian Theory to try his hand at a third Solario Stakes victory having won the race in 2006 and 2009.

Austrian Theory was eyecatching on debut to stay on strongly at Doncaster, always doing enough to edge out Godolphin runner Private Signal on the run in to the line.

The son of Awtaad was subsequently off the pace at Newmarket when finishing 6th in the Superlative Stakes, however improved from that run for the switch to soft ground when finishing a close up 3rd at Goodwood in the Group 2 Vintage stakes.

He may improve again for the switch to good ground and should appreciate a stiff 7f trip.

Andrew Balding is in good form of late with a 22% strike rate across the last 14 days, whilst jockey Oisin Murphy is also enjoying a fine spell in the saddle boasting a 28% strike rate across the same period.

The pair team up aboard, Star From Afarhh who is 1 from 1 after making a winning debut last time out at Newmarket upon fast ground.

The 2nd home that day, Kawida, has since franked the form by winning next time out, albeit in a maiden, and Star From Afarhh looks set to take another step forward here second time out.

Progeny of Farhh have a highly touted 5 wins from 11 runs here at Sandown, showing a high potential for suitability to the track.

She looks fair value for taking on the favourite, despite lacking in experience, although does have something to prove taking on the colts.

Michael Bell is looking to land his first Solario Stakes and comes sporting entrant, Great Max, for the contest.

Great Max beat interweaving form line, Harrow, by 0.75 lengths on debut at Newbury (6.5f) and subsequently made a respectable step up to listed company when finishing 3rd in the Chesham next time out, 3.25 lengths behind re-opposing rival Reach For The Moon on soft ground.

He weakened away in the Superlative Stakes last time out for the step up to a Group 2 and he now looks to have plenty to find re-opposing Reach For The Moon.

Cresta bumped the start at Leicester last time out on debut however showed eyecatching headway from the rear to press the leaders 2f out before running on to lead in the final furlong.

Martyn Meade's runner wasn't well fancied for the contest by any means going off a 12/1 shot for the affair, however got the better of a more experienced, short priced Godolphin runner to win that day.

Albeit across a small sample size of 11 runs, progeny of New Bay's 27% strike rate and 45% place rate at stiff right handed tracks, reads well for Cresta's chances in this and he could be up for being competitive at this level on his second start... although that is a big if.

Irish raider, Rerouting, ran fairly green on debut, however kept on well to win by an eventual shoulder at Gowran Park (7f).

The son of El Kabeir didnt appear to beat much that day given it was a 50/1 shot in 2nd and although likely to improve for the run, he will need to take a huge step forward from that effort in order to be competitive in this grade.

Jane Chappell-Hyam's, Atherby, was a 40/1 outsider on debut at Chelmsford on the all-weather and did outrun his odds to finish 3rd in the class 5 maiden.

He is entitled to improvement for this second outing now upped to the 7f trip and the yard are in good form of late.

Having said this, he looks likely to be outclassed at this level and the market reflects this.