Solow will miss Queen Anne

Solow has been taken out of consideration for the Queen Anne Stakes June 14 at Royal Ascot, his connections announced this week.

Solow won the Queen Anne last year as part of a brilliant undefeated championship campaign, but after winning his first start of 2016, Solow suffered an injury a week before a trip to Dubai for the Dubai Turf, causing him to miss that race.

Solow suffered an injury to a hind leg from a kick, though it’s unclear whether Solow hit himself or was kicked by another horse. In any case, Solow’s recovery apparently has not gone as hoped, and he has been sent to the Normandy farm of his owners, Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, for an indefinite period of recovery.

His absence is a boon to the Queen Anne chances of Tepin, who is set to contest the straight-course mile race after another facile victory last Saturday in the Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill, and has moved into favoritism for the race. Tepin clearly is talented enough to win the Queen Anne, but the main question is how she will adapt to racing down an undulating straightaway.

Dante could clarify Derby picture

Midterm heads the Group 2 Dante Stakes on Thursday at York, and could stamp himself the horse to beat in the Epsom Derby with a strong performance.

The Michael Stoute-trained, Juddmonte Farms-owned Midterm beat 16 rivals winning a maiden race last October in his lone start at 2, and proved best making his 3-year-old debut over 1 1/4 miles April 22 at Sandown in the Group 3 Classic Trial. Out of the excellent racemare Midday, Midterm obviously is talented, but his place at or near the head of the Derby betting markets demonstrates the unsettled nature of the European 3-year-old crop this year.

Midterm races just less than 1 5/16 miles Thursday over the relatively flat course at York against 11 rivals. Foundation and Deauville appear the most likely challengers.

Fall return for Jack Hobbs

Jack Hobbs was pulled up last weekend in his 4-year-old debut and suffered a fractured pelvis, but is expected to return to action this fall, his owner, Godolphin has announced. Trained by John Gosden, Jack Hobbs was second in the Epsom Derby last year and won the Irish Derby, and has been considered a serious hope for the 2016 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

* A 2-year-old colt named Cunco is entered in a maiden race on Friday at Newbury and will be the first runner sired by the great racehorse Frankel.