Solario Stakes Preview: Goodwood performance is good enough for a Positive show

The feature race on Saturday is the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown, with the two-year-old colts and geldings taking centre stage. The roll of honour for this contest features plenty of smart types, including Raven's Pass, Kingman and last year's champion two-year-old, Too Darn Hot. No trainer has dominated this contest, but John Gosden saddled all three of the previously mentioned colts to success, with Too Darn Hot putting up the best performance in the race since Raven's Pass in 2007.

John Gosden has two potential darts to fire in this year's renewal, both for different connections. Eshaasy is a twice-raced Oasis Dream colt that made his debut at Newmarket during their July meeting and ran with plenty of promise on debut despite showing signs of inexperience. He finished midfield but very much caught the eye as a horse capable of winning a minor event, and did just that on his next start at Kempton. He didn't have to improve to win on that occasion, but left the impression he still has a bit of growing up to do, and is the type that will go on improving for a while yet.

Gosden also has Encipher entered for Godolphin off the back of two starts. He shaped well on debut at Haydock in a race where all five won next time out, including the fourth winning a Group 3 on Saturday at Goodwood. He didn't have to improve to win a big-field event at Newbury next time, whilst still confirming the promise that he will be a pattern horse in the future. This race looks ideal for him with the stiff seven furlongs set to suit, so would be of definite interest if allowed to take his chance.

Charlie Appleby has the choice of three to declare in his attempt to win this contest for the second time after Masar's success in 2017. Al Suhail ran in the same minor event as Eshaasy on debut, where he travelled like the best horse in the race before being caught late in the day. He then went to Yarmouth where he won a minor event in a first-time hood like a piece of work, and is well worth his place in this contest, with the likelihood of plenty more to come.

Bolted up! 1.1m gns buy Al Suhail scorches the turf in the quickest time for a two-year-old over the 7f trip at @GTYarmouthRaces this year 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PYnQzFAgpE

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 15, 2019

The Newmarket handler also has a more exposed entry in the shape of Well of Wisdom. He wouldn't be without a chance if repeating his French form back on home shores. He is a listed winner over this trip and was a well-beaten second behind subsequent Prix Morny winner Earthlight in the Prix De Cabourg last time out.

Mark Johnston has the unbeaten Thunderous entered, who has done nothing wrong on all three of his starts. He has created an extremely positive impression so far, winning a couple of minor events before completing a hat-trick up in class when winning a listen event at Newbury last time. He faced soft ground for the first time that day, travelling through the race well before finding extra, with stamina looking his strong point. He looks ready for pattern company now and the stiff finish here will suit.

Well backed before the off, THUNDEROUS makes it 3 from 3 to win the (listed) Denford Stakes at @NewburyRacing, for @Johnston_Racing and Franny Norton!🏇

(🎥@itvracing)pic.twitter.com/4g3NOHkg7c

— Timeform Live (@TimeformLive) August 17, 2019

Visinari looks the likely runner from the Johnston yard, given the eye-catching booking of Ryan Moore at the five-day stage. He looked a potential superstar on debut when posting a big performance, putting three and a half lengths between himself and his nearest rival, with a further 10 back to the third. The Timefigure that day backed the visual impression up and he looked worth his place in the July Stakes. Sent off odds-on in the betting for that Group 2 contest, he was only just touched off despite the trip looking as if it was on the sharp side. He disappointed at Glorious Goodwood when finishing a well-beaten fourth behind Pinatubo in the Vintage Stakes last time, but that may have come too soon for this big colt, and he may bounce back here.

The second home in the Vintage Stakes was Clive Cox's Positive, who looked a smart colt in the making on debut. He was a well-backed favourite at Salisbury when making light work of a minor event and subsequently was aimed at Glorious Goodwood. He pulled clear of the rest that day but was no match for the highest rated two-year-old this season and a repeat of that performance would make him of strong interest.

Stretching out, head bowed, Pinatubo wins the Qatar Vintage Stakes at @Goodwood_Races by four

Watch LIVE
📺 @ITV
📱 https://t.co/8ihZAKYLMP#ITVRacing #GloriousGoodwood pic.twitter.com/UosYZiQQ30

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 30, 2019

Surf Dancer created the impression that a higher grade was where he should be plying his trade off the back of his win at Leicester. He made his debut at Ascot behind impressive York winner Mums Tipple, and that race is working out extremely well, so could be up to putting up a bold show now upped into Group company.

C&D winner Kameko looks like taking his chance and will have learnt plenty from his debut effort. He was weak in the market and was first off the bridle with three furlongs to go, but rallied strongly to win by half a length. He'd have learnt plenty from that performance and if showing natural improvement, he might be able to run into a place.

Richard Hannon holds two entries and looks to provide King Power Racing with more Group success with Sun Power. Having competed at listed level on his last three starts and come up slightly short each time, including when behind Thuderous last time, he would need to improve again to take a hand, however.

Man of The Night ran last week in the Stonehenge Stakes at Salisbury when looking still in need of the experience. He finished fourth that day and shaped as if a mile would be his trip going forward. He created a good impression on debut over a trip that would have been on the sharp side for him at Newbury and is worth another chance to confirm that promise if lining up.

Maxi Boy built on a debut success to finish a close enough in the Coventry to make him of interest here. He then posted a similar effort to finish third in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket, but the seven furlongs that day looked as if it stretched his stamina, so he might not relish this test.

The last one of interest is Cepheus, who was a first-time-out winner for Brian Meehan at Newmarket in a newcomers' event three weeks ago, pulling clear with a subsequent winner. The bare form looks like it needs improving, but he's open to progress, though he would need to take a big step forward to play a leading role.

Clive Cox has never won this contest before, but he can bring up his first success with Positive. He had the beating of Visinari at Goodwood and looks like confirming the placings here. The biggest threats could come from Encipher, while stablemate Al Suhail also has plenty of upside, along with the unbeaten Thunderous. 

Recommandation: 

Back Positive at 9/4 to win the Solario Stakes on Saturday at Sandown.