GOODWOOD, ENGLAND // It is hardly Solow’s fault, but his task in Wednesday’s Sussex Stakes was made considerably easier on Monday when his chief rival, Gleneagles, was pulled out of the feature race of Glorious Goodwood due to the rain-softened ground.
The absence of Gleneagles leaves the 1,600-metre race at the mercy of the French gelding, who would become the first horse to take home the Sussex Stakes across the Channel since Bigstone in 1993.
It is, of course, not the first time Solow has had things made easier for him.
At Meydan, in March, when he won the Dubai Turf from a very deep field, The Grey Gatsby ran below form. At Longchamp, in May, Cirrus Des Aigles pulled off a shoe in the Prix d’Ispahan. And then at Royal Ascot Able Friend, Hong Kong’s highest-rated horse, ran no sort of race to leave Solow to tear away from fellow French raider Esoterique.
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Wednesday’s race has been billed over the last few seasons as a “Duel on the Downs,” not only because it has involved some of the best milers in the world, but also as a clever marketing tool to mask the small amount of runners that has taken part.
Solow, who will be ridden once again by Maxime Guyon, faces seven rivals as he seeks what will be an extraordinary eighth consecutive victory.
Goodwood received 42mm of rain between Friday and Sunday, but such is the make-up of this beautiful Sussex racecourse that has a chalk base that the going today is likely to be no worse than good.
Coolmore's loss is Godolphin's gain, as the absence of Gleneagles has resulted in the participation of Night Of Thunder, who relishes an easier surface. Belardo, who Godolphin also have bought into, will line-up in the silks of Saudi Arabia's Prince Faisal bin Salman.
With Qatar Racing’s Arod likely to set a decent pace, the race has all the hallmarks of a stroll in Sussex for Solow, rather than a head-to-head-duel with any of his rivals.
“Race tactics are not a problem for him as he has won from the front; he can do anything,” Head said. “He is a very genuine horse.
“If there is some give in the ground it will be a big help for him as he has won on heavy. I also think that Goodwood will suit him better than the stiff mile at Ascot.
“The ground at Ascot was a bit firm for him, but I still believe that the Queen Anne form is pretty strong. Some of the big-name horses may have run a little below par but that was not Solow’s fault and Esoterique is a very good filly on her day.”
To underline how good Solow was at Ascot, last year’s 2,000 Guineas winner and this season’s Lockinge Stakes winner, Night Of Thunder, was almost five lengths adrift at the line.
James Doyle will be in the saddle for the third time, and trainer Richard Hannon was hardly optimistic of anything more than trying to reduce the margin of defeat.
“Night Of Thunder’s chance has definitely increased by the weekend rain and, while Solow will probably also appreciate this easier ground, this is another day and another track,” the trainer said.
“We won six lengths here first time out as a two year old on soft ground. And take the favourite out and we are the form horse.”
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