Series star Solow remains on sidelines after setback

Solow injured a leg on the gallops in the spring and remains at his owner’s farm. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Connections of Solow remain uncertain as to whether the outstanding miler will return to action before the end of the season.

The Freddy Head-trained grey enjoyed a spectacular campaign in 2015, racking up five Group One victories including three QIPCO British Champions Series triumphs in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and QIPCO-sponsored Queen Elizabeth II Stakes back at Ascot in October.

Solow’s success in the last-named contest, on QIPCO British Champions Day, cemented his position as the best miler in the world.

The six-year-old made a successful return to action in a conditions event at Chantilly in March but subsequently knocked a leg on the gallops.

He was ruled out of an intended trip to Dubai and was unable to defend his Queen Anne crown due to injury. In late May, his name was missing from entries for the Qatar Sussex Stakes, run two months later.

Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager to Solow‘s owners, the Wertheimer brothers, said: “So far he is doing really well. He is still at the (stud) farm at the moment, but things are as good as we could hope and we are happy with his progress.

“We still have hope he will (return before the end of the season), but, clearly, we want him to be 100 per cent.

“He is going in the right direction, but at the moment it is too early to say when he will return. We will wait until he goes back to Freddy and we will start to make a programme after that.”

In Solow’s absence, there will be a new winner of the £1 million Group One Qatar Sussex Stakes, for which 31 entries go forward after today’s scratchings deadline.

Galileo Gold and Minding, who between them have won four Series races this summer, remain engaged. The Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes winner Belardo also stands his ground, while Queen Anne Stakes third Lightning Spear is also a possible.

David Simcock, trainer Lightning Spear, said today: “He is in good order and has come out of Royal Ascot very well.

“There are no firm plans for him at the moment as we are still deciding, but he is in the Qatar Sussex Stakes and it is a definite option.

“I was delighted with his run at Royal Ascot on ground that, for all he handled it, is not his preferred choice. He is definitely better on fast ground and you could not have asked for any more on his first run of the year.”