BetMGM Solario Stakes
Group 3, Sandown 15:35
£65,000 guaranteed,
2yo only,
7f 16y, Class 1   
Saturday 30th August 2025

SureWIn

1 A Bit Of Spirit 2/1F
2 Humidity 11/4
3 Oceans Four 25/1
6 ran NR: Publish Distances: nse, nse, nk
Time: 1m 31.12s (slow by 4.02s

A Bit Of Spirit kept the Clive Cox yard rolling when coming out on top in a pulsating four-way finish.

The most seasoned runner in the line-up, with four starts already under his belt, Rossa Ryan wasted no time in using that know-how, bouncing to the front in this Group Three test.

But two furlongs out, he looked a sitting target. Here came Royal Ascot scorer Humidity, Brian Meehan’s Oceans Four ranged up too, and from further back Pacific Avenue, who had been niggled along a long way out, suddenly joined the party. Four across the track, and in turn each looked the one — until they didn’t.

Pacific Avenue was the first to give way, but only just, beaten less than half a length in fourth. Oceans Four edged narrowly in front, leaning into Humidity, who was still fighting on, but back came A Bit Of Spirit. Head down, heart out, he surged again when it mattered most.

The judge was needed. The photo went the way of Cox, fresh from York glory last week with Song Of The Clyde. Oceans Four was called second, Humidity third — but the stewards had their say and flipped those placings.

Cox was full of admiration: “He’s got remarkable courage and really digs deep. He’s so tough, I think he was beaten for a minute and has got back up and I’m so proud.

“We had no idea if he would cope with condition this easy and certainly we haven’t seen any ground like this all summer, but he’s all heart and so tough and I’m very pleased.

“He’s done nothing but improve with confidence and with that confidence he has displayed more ability, but the fighting quality has been there from the get go.

“Even on his first start he showed those qualities and even though he was quite green at that stage he’s got more battle-hardened now and is displaying more and more courage.

“Rossa was great there and he had all confidence he would handle the ground and it was proved rightly that was the case. I’m thrilled he’s taken this step today.”

The colt holds a host of big-race entries, and Cox is intent on keeping ambitions high.

“I’m pleased to enjoy today and I think he’s a tough, hardy two-year-old so we can keep pushing with that in mind.

“Now we know he handles the ground we can plot accordingly and he’s got all the options wide open.

“He’s well entered and he’s in the Royal Lodge, but I’m not sure if we would prefer to stay at seven furlongs and he’s in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in France and all those races. I’m just thrilled we can discuss all the options and hopefully make the right decisions.

“From next year’s point of view, we probably stepped up to a mile early enough at Salisbury but the fact he can go on soft ground gives me confidence we can keep going this year and hopefully he may develop further next year.

“I’m delighted for the owners (Paul and Clare Rooney) who have been big supporters and it’s nice for them to have a horse like this for the big stage. It’s a joy to train nice horses for nice people and a privilege to make a living out of a passion really.”

Solario Stakes
£60,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 7f, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Soft

POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (1)     A Bit Of Spirit 2 9-3 Clive Cox Rossa Ryan 2/1F
2 (6) nse Oceans Four 2 9-3 Brian Meehan Joe Leavy 25/1
3 (3) nse Humidity 2 9-3 Andrew Balding Oisin Murphy 11/4
4 (5) nk Pacific Avenue 2 9-3 Charlie Appleby William Buick 5/2
5 (7) 5½ Looka 2 9-3 Marco Botti Daniel Muscutt 28/1
6 (2) ¾ He's Waliim 2 9-3 James Tate Clifford Lee 6/1
NR 7 (4) Publish 2 9-3 John & Thady Gosden NON RUNNER

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