Aablan demonstrates his promise with Solario Stakes victory

Aablan battled back gamely to claim the honours in the Virgin Bet Solario Stakes at Sandown.

The Group Three contest has a fine roll of honour, with the likes of Kingman, Too Darn Hot and 2018 Derby victor Masar all landing the contest in the last 10 years.

Like Masar, Aablan was representing trainer Charlie Appleby in the blue Godolphin silks and he carried plenty of market confidence after winning on debut at Newmarket last month.

Sent off the 7-4 favourite in the hands of James Doyle, Aablan went to challenge two furlongs out but could not quite get his head in front of leader Inishfallen and looked set to be swamped as Starlore was unleashing his run down the outside.

However, Aablan kept finding between those two rivals, digging deep to get his head in front just strides from the post, prevailing by a neck from 22-1 shot Inishfallen.

Devil’s Point finished with a flourish widest of all to be beaten a length and a quarter in third, with Starlore edged into fourth by a short head.

Appleby was recording back-to-back wins in the Solario after Silver Knott last year and his assistant Alex Merriam said: “Aablan had only had the one run coming into today, and I thought James gave him a lovely ride and taught him a fair bit.

“A furlong out I thought we weren’t going to win and James has said he is a horse that wants a mile in time, so that is probably what we will look at next.

“I thought two down he was going to win quite easily as he travelled into it, whether it was just through greenness or that he wants the mile, but he has got the job done in quite a competitive race, so we are happy with him.”

Aablan’s odds for next month’s Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket were cut to 14-1 from 25s by Betfair, but his next target has yet to be decided.

Merriam added: “To be honest, Charlie said we will get him home and probably go a mile, but there were no immediate plans. He is a big, raw horse so he might need a bit of time between his races. We will see how we go.

“I’d say we would probably start at a mile next year and go from there. Whether he gets a bit further, he could in time.”

Doyle was satisfied with Aablan’s performance and thinks a longer trip will benefit the colt, who is a son of Dubawi out of a multiple Group race winner in Promising Run.

He said: “He is quite flamboyant in his early paces and it is key to conserve that energy at this stage.

“The race couldn’t have worked out much better as we were able to get that cover straight away which helped him find a rhythm, although it took a little time.

“Once we got to the bend, he was nicely under control and ultimately he gets through the line pretty well. I was keen once we straightened up to just let him gradually go through his paces.

“He hasn’t got an electric turn of foot, but I knew this distance would be perfect with the stiff finish. I think going further is going to be better for him.

“Charlie does the race planning and a lot will depend how this fellow takes the race. I don’t think they will be in any great rush to make a target.

“As we have seen he is a lively character that takes a bit of managing, but the boys have done great job with him.”