Solow could be bound for Lockinge

Maxime Guyon congratulates Solow after their Qatar Sussex Stakes success last summer. Image copyright of Racingfotos.com

Solow will miss the Dubai Turf at Meydan on Saturday week after suffering a minor setback.

Freddy Head, his trainer, has indicated that his next assignment could now be the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 14. That £350,000 contest is the second race in the Mile category of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

Solow, who won his tenth race in succession on his return at Chantilly this month, knocked a leg on the gallops yesterday morning. Head was not totally happy with him today and ruled out running him in the Dubai Turf, a race he won in dazzling fashion 12 months ago.

“We are not going to Dubai,” Head said. “His leg is not right this morning so we have decided not to go – we just don’t have enough time. It’s nothing too serious at this stage, but the leg is not right.”

He added: “We don’t really know where we will go yet, but the Lockinge could be an option, although the Prix d’Ispahan is around that time and it was the plan to go for that, so we will see.”

Solow was outstanding in the QIPCO British Champions Series last year, when he won the Queen Anne Stakes, Qatar Sussex Stakes and the QIPCO sponsored Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
The grey has earned his connections more than £4 million in prize money.