Blast From The Pass: Solario Stakes

 ‘No two-year-old performance in 2007 quite took the breath away like the seven-length success of Raven's Pass in the Group 3 Iveco Solario Stakes at Sandown in September, a very smart effort backed up by an excellent timefigure.’

This is how Raven’s Pass’ essay in Racehorses of 2007 starts, giving credence to the impression he made when winning the Solario Stakes. Trained by John Gosden, who saddles Purser in this year's renewal of the Solario on Saturday, Raven's Pass had won both of his starts prior to his demolition job at Sandown, namely a maiden at Yarmouth and listed race at Ascot, both over seven furlongs. He was subsequently sent off a short-priced favourite for the Solario, and he didn’t let backers down, routing the field by seven lengths, in turn putting up one of the best juvenile performances of the year, as Racehorses recounts:

‘Raven's Pass won in more imperious style than at Ascot, again travelling strongly close to the pace before drawing right away after two furlongs out, winning most impressively from City Leader, still looking to have plenty of running in him at the line. It was the best performance in the Solario since it became a pattern event in 1986 and Raven's Pass returned an exceptional timefigure for a juvenile below Group 1 level of 0.89 fast, equivalent to a timerating of 122.’

Maze was also unbeaten coming into the Solario, after winning the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot on his second career start, and he looked the main danger beforehand, sent off the 4/1 second favourite. However, he was really stewed up beforehand, sweating and edgy, and that clearly affected his performance, racing freely and weakening some way out; his temperament ultimately got the better of him throughout his career, and the Chesham turned out to be his most significant win. It was the once-raced winner City Leader who got the closest to Raven’s Pass, albeit never a danger, still looking green on just his second start, and leaving the impression he still had some strengthening up to do. City Leader went on to win the Royal Lodge Stakes at Ascot on his next start and developed into a smart performer.

Raven’s Pass was firmly in the public eye following his excellent win in the Solario, subsequently sent off a well-backed second favourite for the Dewhurst at Newmarket on his next start, and for a long way looked the likeliest winner, beaten only by New Approach and Fast Company, who both handled the soft ground better.

As expected, the big, strong Raven’s Pass went on to make up into an even better three-year-old, ending 2008 in fine style, winning the Celebration Mile at Goodwood, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot and Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita (upped in trip and switched to a synthetic surface) – breaking through the 130 top-class barrier in Timeform ratings on his final two starts.