Could Haggas have another super son of Sea The Stars on his hands?

Saturday: 2.40 SandownFasig-Tipton Night Of The Stars Solario Stakes (Group 3) | 7f | 2yo | ITV/RTV

William Haggas is responsible for the best horse since Frankel and his expert care has crafted Baaeed into the great that he became when running away with the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday. So can Haggas do the same with another hot prospect in Desert Hero?

Just like Baaeed, Desert Hero is a son of the great Sea The Stars and Haggas has done remarkably well with the sire's progeny in recent years. In fact, nobody has a better record.

Since the turn of the decade, Haggas has saddled 52 winners from 138 runners who were sired by Sea The Stars. That is a 38 per cent strike-rate and is 21 winners more than his nearest pursuer, the John and Thady Gosden stable, which has sent out 31 from 129.

Desert Hero didn't run an outstanding time when winning on his debut at Haydock in June, but he had a subsequent winner well beaten in second and that was after taking a bump at the start. He should improve for the run and, if there is a superstar in the race, it's probably him.

Silver Knott went off 11-10 favourite on his debut at Newbury, but punters who backed him at that price probably hadn't bargained that he would run into Wednesday's Acomb winner Chaldean. Silver Knott was no match in fourth, but did improve to win at Kempton next time.

A Racing Post Rating of 91 leaves him 2lb behind Desert Hero and it would seem fair to expect the Queen's colt to be open to the most improvement of the two. We will find out here.

Peter Chapple-Hyam was once famed for his success with juveniles, but he has never won the Solario and Defence Of Fort bids to give him his first. The Starspangledbanner colt won in a good time and by a wide margin on his debut at Ascot last month, and he may just be the fly in the ointment.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Defence goes on the attack

The once-raced Ascot winner Defence Of Fort will in fact be making his third appearance at a racecourse having enjoyed a workout on the July course at Newmarket last Friday.

Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam bought the son of Starspangledbanner for just £19,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Sale last September, but he would not have even been there were it not for Covid restrictions that led to the auction being relocated to Newmarket.

Defence Of Fort made no mistake on his debut over this trip at Ascot last month when scoring by four and three-quarter lengths, since when Chapple-Hyam has sold a half-share in the chestnut to Hong Kong owner Man Bun Lee.

Chapple-Hyam said: "We were going to go to York for the Acomb Stakes, but we decided to come here instead. The horse really wants a mile and York is a very fast seven furlongs and he would have just got taken off his feet early on, so we thought it best to go to Sandown where it is a stiff finish."

On the opposition, he said: "Many of them are once-raced winners just like us. He worked over seven furlongs with a lead horse on the July course last Friday. The ground was a bit on the slow side as they had just watered it, but everything went perfectly."

The Newmarket trainer claims he was not surprised to see him run well first time out, adding: "It did surprise me the way he won, but I did think he would go very close. He had done everything right going into the race. You couldn't have been anything but impressed by the way he won."

What they say

William Haggas, trainer of Desert Hero
He's a nice horse who won a maiden at Haydock. I think the track will suit him and it will be interesting to see whether he's quite ready for this level yet.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Silver Knott
The form of his first run at Newbury has worked out very well and he progressed from that to go and win at Kempton. He gained some more valuable experience on his second start, which it looked like he needed, and his work has been good since. He looks ready to step up to this level so we can see where we are for the autumn.

Louis Steward, rider of Wahaaj
I'm very hopeful. He's in good nick at home and gave me a better feel over seven furlongs last time than he did on his debut over six. Hopefully it's drying out as he doesn't want soft ground, but if it's good, as they say it is, it will be perfect.

Alice Haynes, trainer of Lady Bullet
She's more experienced than many in the race who are only having their second start. She's well drawn and hopefully the ground stays as it is, as she doesn't want it quick.
Reporting by David Milnes

Saturday's race previews:

1.50 York: can Mighty Ulysses emulate one of Gosden's greats en route to Group 1 glory?

2.25 York: 'We've always had the Melrose as a target' – who's been laid out for York prize?

3.00 York: 'If everything goes right he could do it' – City of York Stakes trainer quotes

3.35 York: 'He's ready to roll' – who will land the Ebor, the day's big betting race?

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