Ascot: Solow’s main rival may scratch from Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

Solow burst onto the international stage with a powerful victory in the rich Dubai Turf in late March, and he can grandly step off it – still unbeaten this year – by winning the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Saturday at Ascot.

Whether Solow faces the brilliant 3-year-old miler Gleneagles remained uncertain as of Thursday. Gleneagles hasn’t started since he won the St. James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, and his connections – trainer Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore – could scratch him for the fourth time since that race if the Ascot course comes up softer than their liking. The course is expected to ride good-to-soft, and that is softer than desirable for the fast-ground-loving Gleneagles, who has the Breeders’ Cup Classic as a season-ending goal whether he races Saturday or not. O’Brien planned to walk the course Friday evening before deciding whether to run.

Solow, though, is all systems go, and though his campaign began way back on March 3 with a prep in France for the Dubai Turf, trainer Freddie Head said Solow comes into the QE II still in good form. Post-Dubai, Solow has recorded Group 1 wins in the Prix d’Ispahan, the Queen Anne, and the Sussex Stakes.

“He had a little rest after Goodwood and the Sussex, and now he’s got a month-and-a-half work in him, and the horse is very nice,” said Head. “I’m very happy with the preparation we’ve had. I think he’s as well as he’s ever been.”

Solow was originally viewed as a 1 1/2-mile type based on pedigree, but he grew too heavy for his frame, was gelded, and has turned into one of the world’s best milers. He handles turns, straight courses, and any kind of going, though Head said he’d “rather have a little rain and soft ground” on Saturday.

If Gleneagles doesn’t race, Territories, another France-based horse, might prove the main competition. The 3-year-old Territories finished second to Gleneagles in the English 2000 Guineas, won the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat, and was second to the top-class mare Esoterique in the Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois while racing over very soft ground that blunted his brilliance. Trainer Andre Fabre in fact scratched Territories from the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp because of a wet course. But while Territories is good, he would need a step back from Solow to spring an upset.

The same can be said for Kodi Bear, who has scored blowout wins at a mile over lesser competition in his two most recent starts and is about even with Territories in antepost betting.

The QE II, with post time scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Eastern, is the fourth race on a strong card that also includes three other Group 1’s, the best of them the Champion Stakes, which goes at 10:05 a.m. Eastern.