Solow back in light training but skips Dubai

Solow wins the QEII on QIPCO British Champions Day in 2015. Picture: racingfotos.com

Solow is back in light training ahead of a possible bid to reclaim his Queen Anne Stakes crown – but will not run on Meydan’s Dubai World Cup night at the end of next month.

The Freddy Head-trained grey won at Meydan two years ago en route to recording three memorable triumphs in the QIPCO British Champions Series but he does not feature among almost 800 horses nominated today for this year’s meeting.

Head told The National: “There is no way I can get him ready for a race like that in time. We are not coming to Dubai. He is back in training and I am very happy with him and it is all going well.

“I am looking at racing him for the first time probably at the end of April or the beginning of May and his intended target is the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.”

Solow won the Queen Anne Stakes, Sussex Stakes and QIPCO-sponsored Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 2015.

He was expected to be among the stars of the 2016 Series, too, after extending his winning sequence to ten on his return at Chantilly in early March.

However, he sustained a leg injury of the gallops soon afterwards and has not run again since.

Provided he stands training, the gelding is likely to have a similar campaign in Britain as in 2015.

Series stars nominated for the Dubai World Cup meeting include Postponed, Tepin, Seventh Heaven, Highland Reel, Limato and Signs Of Blessing.

Solow will not contest the Dubai Turf at Meydan. Is being trained to reclaim his Queen Anne crown. Could meet Tepin there, too.

— Geoffrey Riddle (@Louchepunter) February 7, 2017