Noseda targeting back-to-back Solario Stakes wins

While Frankel`s connections have confirmed that the world`s best racehorse will reappear in the Champion Stakes next month, lesser lights headline this weekend`s action, which includes the Solario Stakes and the Atalanta Stakes.

The Solario Stakes, a Group Three race over seven furlongs at Sandown for two-year-olds with classic aspirations, has seven declared runners, with bookmakers installing Master Of War as the favourite ahead of Tha`ir and Fantastic Moon.

Master Of War is the top-rated Solario Stakes runner with an official mark of 108 following five runs as a juvenile. The son of Compton Place owes his high rating to his half-length second behind Heavy Metal in the Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and Heavy Metal`s subsequent head second in the Gimcrack Stakes during the Yorkshire Ebor Festival.

Richard Hannon`s charge sets a decent standard but there are grounds for opposing him in the Solario Stakes, particularly at short odds. For starters, Sandown staff are forecasting going on the firm side of good and Master of War`s only run on a surface harder than good resulted in a fifth placing on debut. His best display came on a soft Newbury track.

Admittedly, on a form line through Coventry Stakes runner-up and Vintage Stakes winner Olympic Glory, Master of War is a couple of pounds superior to the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Tha`ir, winner of two of his four career starts.

But Fantastic Moon is a fascinating entry in the Solario Stakes. The son of Dalakhani won his Newmarket debut well under William Buick, running on strong to beat first-up Kempton maiden winner Snowboarder by half a length.

What makes Fantastic Moon stand out from the crowd, though, is the fact that his trainer, Jeremy Noseda, won the 2011 Solario Stakes with Talwar, who led from start to finish, romping home by five lengths. Trainers often farm races so it is significant that Noseda has sent Fantastic Moon to Sandown for his second race and first Group contest.

Ante-post Solario Stakes betting sees Master Of War at around 2-1 and Fantastic Moon at around 5-1. Those prices may move before the stalls open but, as it stands, the unexposed Noseda charge makes much more better appeal.

The Atalanta Stakes, a Group Three race over a mile for non-juvenile fillies and mares, has attracted a massive field of 16 runners, with the early betting markets seeing Dank at the head of affairs at around the 5-1 mark.

It does not look like a vintage renewal of the Atalanta Stakes, which has been promoted from Listed to Group Three status this year, with many of the shortest priced runners having questionable form and most of the outsiders making what should be a big step up from handicap class.

If the Atalanta Stakes market does not move then Making Eyes, available at around 12-1, shapes as the bet. Hugo Palmer is confident that the four-year-old daughter of Dansili will improve on her Listed victory at Vichy two months ago and, although she is unproven on firm ground having raced mostly on going good or softer, such is the stable confidence in the filly and the big price on offer that it can be taken on trust that she will handle it.

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03/09/2012     © Frixo 2024