Soldier Hollow solid choice

Soldier Hollow is well spotted to make off with a third consecutive Premio Roma title at the Capannelle in Italy on Sunday when the British-bred, German-trained son of In the Wings faces nine rivals in the Group 1, $236,000 race at 1 1/4 miles.

Third behind The Tin Man and Cacique in the Arlington Million when he beat out English Channel by a head, Soldier Hollow next teamed with Olivier Peslier to win the Group 2 Prix Dollar at Longchamp on Sept. 30.

Soldier Hollow should reward his Roman backers for the third time, though at a price considerably lower than the 13-2 and the 11-2 he returned the last two years.

The challenge may come from one of only three Italian-trained horses in the field. Fair Nashwan, a 4-year-old Nashwan filly trained by Bruno Grizzetti, is a three-time winner going 1 1/4 miles vs. lesser in Milan.

The Godolphin Racing entrant Cherry Mix, not the same horse he was when finishing second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe two years ago, did win the 1 1/2-mile Group 1 Rheinland-Pokal at Cologne in August.

A second Godolphin entry, the 3-year-old filly Emily Bronte, adds intrigue to the Roma. She returned from a year-long absence to finish second in a one-mile listed event on the Lingfield Polytrack on Oct. 26 and could have a bright future.