Will the Queen's Reach For The Moon be another winning Solario favourite?

Saturday: 2.05 Sandown
Betway Solario Stakes (Group 3) | 7f | 2yo | ITV/RTV

A small field has become predictable in the Solario (average of 6.6 runners since 2011), but that matters little to favourite backers who have cashed in on five consecutive winning market leaders. Will likely odds-on favourite Reach For The Moon follow suit?

His pedigree indicates that 7f would be an absolute minimum given he is a brother to dual 1m4f winner Chalk Stream and by leading middle-distance sire Sea The Stars. However, he showed plenty of speed to lead the field in the Chesham Stakes and quickened nicely after slow early sectionals in a Newbury maiden last time.

In three starts he has been beaten by two horses — the 109-rated New Science and 108-rated Point Lonsdale, who is favourite for next season's Qipco 2,000 Guineas and Cazoo Derby — and he put four lengths between himself and subsequent York nursery winner Harrow last time. There is no doubt that he brings the best form to the table.

Consequently, it is a surprise that he doesn't boast the highest official rating in this race. Austrian Theory just pips him with a mark of 104, though his form doesn't stack up anywhere near as well, hence the disparity between the pair in the market. The Doncaster maiden winner is likely to go straight to the front but weakened tamely once challenged on his last two outings.

Great Max (far): seeking to reverse Royal Ascot form with Reach For The MoonCredit: Alan Crowhurst

He finished one place and two and a quarter lengths behind the reopposing Great Max in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes in July and there is no guarantee that he will reverse that form with the Michael Bell-trained runner.

Star From Afarhh, the sole filly in the field, might be the biggest danger to Reach For The Moon after an impressive debut success at Newmarket. Two subsequent winners have come out of that race and she receives 3lbs from the boys.

Rerouting should not be overlooked after an impressive debut success for Michael O'Callaghan, who has a 27 per cent strike-rate (4-15) with two-year-olds in Britain in the last five years.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

Future entries suggest may not be penalty kick for long odds-on shot

It is always interesting – and often highly informative – to look at the future Group-race entries of horses in a race like the Solario Stakes.

As you would expect for a colt of such rich potential, Reach For The Moon holds a number of leading entries, comprising the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, and Newmarket's Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes and Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes.

John Gosden, joint-trainer of Reach For The Moon, said: "The Solario is a race we like and we've had it in mind for him since he won nicely at Newbury.

"He has a progressive profile, but it's a clash of maiden and novice winners and it will be interesting to see how it works out.

"The horse that was second to him last time [Harrow] won at York on Thursday, and that all helps."

John Gosden after Jack Hobbs's racecourse gallop before racingNewmarket 12.4.16 Pic: Edward WhitakerCredit: Edward Whitaker

Reach For The Moon is not the only one with a clutch of future big-race entries. In fact, both Austrian Theory and Great Max have more to their name in numerical terms given they are engaged in the Group 1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes, as well as the Champagne, Royal Lodge and Dewhurst.

As Gosden points out, it is going to be interesting to see how it works out and, judged on the regard in which trainers clearly hold their Solario representatives, it might not necessarily turn out to be the one-horse race in favour of Reach For The Moon which the market predicts.

What they say

Jane Chapple-Hyam, trainer of Atheby
The owner is only here until the end of the month and he is very keen to see his horses running. Atheby finished third behind a nice Godolphin horse at Chelmsford, and he was steaming home at the finish so the extra furlong should suit.

Michael Bell, trainer of Great Max
He has a bit to find with the Queen's horse [Reach For The Moon] based on their runs in the Chesham. He looks a picture at present, and I'm hoping he can acquit himself well.

Michael O'Callaghan, trainer of Rerouting
It was a very good performance to win from stall 19 at Gowran on his debut. We always liked at home but he hadn't been catching pigeons as it seems that he's a laidback type who saves his best for the track, which is often the way with good horses. I think the stiff 7f at Sandown will suit him nicely.
Reporting by Richard Birch

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1.50 York: fast-improving Real World out to continue march towards Group 1s in Strensall

2.25 York: can King Of The Castle lay one more ghost to rest for late sire Galileo?

3.00 York: Walker hoping things fall right again for exciting Primo Bacio on Knavesmire

3.35 York: 'if you win the Ebor you're a bloody legend!' – key quotes as 22 go for glory

Big-race analysis: do you need a Group horse for the Ebor? Keith Melrose is not convinced (Members' Club)

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