Sky Bet Solario Stakes: runner-by-runner guide and tip

If ever a race was knocking on the door for an upgrade, then surely it is the Group Three Sky Bet Solario Stakes.

The seven-furlong contest at Sandown Park has a rich roll of honour, going back 40 years ago to when Oh So Sharp took the honours. She would go on to win the 1000 Guineas, Oaks and St Leger.

Alhaarth (1995), Raven’s Pass (2007), Kingman (2013), Masar (2017), Too Darn Hot (2018) and Silver Knott (2022) have been among other top-notch winners, while the many supporting acts have included Kameko, pipped a nose in the 2019 edition.

Saturday’s edition has attracted eight runners, with two of them boasting unblemished records and all bar one of them having achieved at least one win.  Here’s a guide to the class of 2024. 

Best odds: 16/1. 

Won in polished style at Salisbury on his debut when a well-backed favourite but came up short in Group Two company on his next two starts before finishing only sixth in a Sales race over 6f at York last week, when his official rating of 101 suggested he had a leading chance. The return to 7f should suit – everything happened a bit quick for him on the Knavesmire – but others make more appeal. 

Best odds: 2/1 fav. 

John Gosden has already won the Solario a record-equalling six times, with the Clarehaven stars to have scooped the spoils including Raven’s Pass, Kingman and Too Darn Hot. Field Of Gold, a grey son of Kingman, now seeks to emulate them, and is sure to be popular after his taking victory at Newmarket, which came after a promising debut at Doncaster when he slow away and raw behind a winner who has subsequently won at Listed level. Gosden Sr described him after his win as “above average” and “one of our nicest prospects”, although there have only been a handful of juvenile winers to emerge from Clarehaven this term. He’s priced up quite defensively, and I fancy that he already wants a mile to be seen to maximum advantage. 

Best odds: 14/1. 

Seeks to emulate his sire, Too Darn Hot, who took this in 2018. The form of his debut third to Wimbledon Hawkeye at Kempton in late May has worked out well, and he lunged late to grab a dead-heat with Spell Master at Goodwood last time. He’s capable of better yet, although Spell Master’s subsequent defeat in a handicap at York, off a mark of 86, behind Angel Hunter (received 3lb), suggests plenty more will be required. Unlike several of these, he has no big entries this autumn. 

Best odds: 5/1. 

This brother to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Aunt Pearl cost 500,000gns as a yearling and went about his work in willing fashion when justifying favouritism on his debut over 7f at Leicester this month. The runner-up, Shah, did his bit for the form when chasing home the exciting Angelo Buonarroti (a stablemate of Matauri Bay) in the Convivial at York last week. Matauri Bay was a little fractious in the stalls at Leicester but Hector Crouch merely had to wave his Pro-Cush at him in the closing stages to win in decisive style. The RaceiQ data reveals he’s a long strider, adding weight to his staying capabilities, and he slips into the “could be anything” category. 

Best odds: 4/1. 

This son of Lope De Vega is the fifth foal of the top-class Arabian Queen, and her offspring have already included smart performers in See The Fire and Spirit Mixer. He got his career off to the perfect start when scoring on debut over 7f at Salisbury, although it took him a little while to stamp his authority on things and the form has holes in it. Royal Playwright can only improve for that initial experience, though, and trainer Andrew Balding brought Kameko here in 2019 with a similar profile. There could be plenty more to come. 

Best odds: 13/2. 

Karl Burke has had 38 juvenile winners this year, with Tiger Mask doing his bit for the tally when landing a a 7f novice event at Ascot, having previously bumped into The Strikin Vikin at York. The grey raced up with then pace in the Group Two Vintage Stakes at Goodwood last time, but he and Cool Hoof Luke rather softened each other up. They finished fourth and third, respectively, with the latter since landing last week’s Gimcrack. Tiger Mask is again likely to race prominently – draw permitting – and such tactics can be rewarding at Sandown. 

Best odds: 22/1. 

Left his debut form behind when springing a bit of a surprise in a 7f maiden at Haydock last time and the third home that day, Intrusively, did his bit for the form when filling the same position in the Richmond Stakes. That formline may be a little misleading, though, as overall that Haydock race has an ordinary look. Charlie Hills has had only a couple of two-year-old winners from 35 runners this campaign. 

Best odds: 50/1. 

Made a promising start when beaten a neck by the well-backed Amiloc in a 7f maiden at Kempton this month and you could argue he was a little unlucky not to win, as the winner was much better placed the way a steadily run contest unfolded. The fourth has come out and won since, but this represents a much stiffer assignment. 

MATAURI BAY looked a good prospect at Leicester and the record of horses heading here on the back of a debut win is encouraging. Native Khan, Talwar, Fantastic Moon, Kingman, Too Darn Hot, Etonian and Aablan have all been winners of this prize since 2010 after just one previous start. Seagulls Eleven was a notable absentee at the overnight stage. In his absence, Field Of Gold rates an obvious threat, while Tiger Mask could enjoy the run of things.

1 MATAURI BAY. 2 FIELD OF GOLD. 3 TIGER MASK