Publish aiming to stamp authority on classy Solario field

Publish has some big boots to fill when he bids to provide his connections with back-to-back victories in the BetMGM Solario Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.

A huge eyecatcher when second on his debut at the Esher venue in early July, John and Thady Gosden’s juvenile comfortably went one better on his return three weeks later and now faces a step up to Group Three level over the same course and distance this weekend.

The Gosdens and owner-breeders Juddmonte not only teamed up to land the Solario with Publish’s sire Kingman in 2013, but also struck gold with this year’s Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes scorer Field Of Gold 12 months ago, so it is no surprise that hopes for their latest candidate are high.

“The Solario is a race that has had a big roll of honour and Publish is a horse we like. He looked good in his two maidens runs, so we’re looking forward to seeing what way he can step up into Group company in what looks a deep enough renewal,” said Juddmonte’s racing manager Barry Mahon.

“He’s had a nice break since his last run and John and Thady picked this route, they’ve used it in the past, so we have to be hopeful that he should be capable of a good run, all being well.”

Gosden senior has saddled a record seven winners of this race in all, with Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Raven’s Pass (2007) and multiple Group One winner Too Darn Hot (2018) also among them.

Mahon added: “I think it’s John’s go-to race if he has a nice horse and I’m sure if you look back through the years, there’s plenty there that didn’t win too.

“But if he has a nice two-year-old it seems to be his preferred route, so let’s hope he’s good enough to continue the good run.

“As we know October is action-packed for two-year-olds, so we’ll find out whether we’re good enough to compete in one of the big races or whether you have to lower your sights a little bit.”

Charlie Appleby counts subsequent Derby hero Masar (2017) among his three previous Solario winners and is this year represented by Pacific Avenue, who inflicted a surprise defeat on stablemate Wild Desert when making a winning debut at Newmarket in June.

“This is a race we have done well in in recent seasons, Pacific Avenue worked nicely on Saturday and the form of his last run has worked out very well,” said Appleby.

“The second horse (Wild Desert) came out and was third in the Superlative Stakes and the third, fourth and fifth have come out and won well, so we are going there with a horse that will hopefully be competitive.

“He hasn’t been out since winning his debut in June, but he is in good shape at home and we do feel that the seven furlongs at Sandown will suit him well.

“He is a horse we have always liked and if he could go and hopefully win on Saturday, we could look towards something like a Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere possibly, but that is pie in the sky stuff at the moment and the focus for now is on the Solario.”

Too Darn Hot colt He’s Waliim is an interesting contender for James Tate, turning out 17 days after blitzing his rivals by upwards of six lengths on his introduction at Beverley.

Tate said: “Obviously he was very impressive and he’s a horse we’re excited about, but we’re aware that we are throwing him in at the deep end somewhat, so fingers crossed he can swim.

“His home work had been very smart before Beverley so we were expecting him to win, but they don’t always run up to their homework, so it was nice that he did.

“It’s a field full of unknowns on Saturday and you don’t quite know whether you’re taking on next year’s Guineas winner or a horse that wins the Solario and doesn’t win another Group race, it can vary.

“But we’re happy with our horse, seven furlongs around a bend with a uphill finish and quick-ish ground should suit us down to the ground, so we’ll find out a lot.”

Other hopefuls include Andrew Balding’s Chesham winner Humidity, who bids to bounce back from a disappointing effort in Goodwood’s Vintage Stakes, and Clive Cox’s A Bit Of Spirit, who has won twice and finished second twice in four starts.

Richard Brown, adviser to Humidity’s owners Wathnan Racing, said: “Andrew seems very happy with him and he said he has worked particularly well since Goodwood.

“I don’t think the track suited him particularly well at Goodwood and I’m hoping Sandown and the stiff seven will be more to his liking as I think he will get further in time.

“This is obviously a very strong renewal, as you would expect, but I think the race will set up much better for him than at Goodwood and he will be hitting the line strong.”

Of A Bit Of Spirit, Cox said: “He’s in very good form. He stepped up to a mile last time at Salisbury in the Stonehenge and was beaten by a very nice horse (Morris Dancer).

“We’ll be very happy to step back to seven furlongs at Sandown, he’s in great nick and we’re really looking forward to it.”