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Horse Racing

Richard Hannon’s Etonian remains unbeaten after Solario win at Sandown with colt cut for Classic glory

ETONIAN handed his rivals a good old fashioned schooling in the Betway Solario Stakes.

Despite a slip on the turn for home, Richard Hannon’s colt made it two from two with an impressive one-and-a-quarter length triumph in the Sandown feature.

Jockey Patt Dobbs survived a scare on the turn in to steer Etonian home

The bookies were impressed with the Group 3 win, and Ladbrokes cut him into as short as 16-1 for the 2000 Guineas next spring.

A run in the Dewhurst Stakes at the end of this campaign could be next on the cards.

Andrew Balding’s King Vega was an eye-catching second – the same position filled by stable star Kameko last season.

Hannon smiled: “He is a horse that stood out with the way he moved. Dobbsy had been back from Dubai for two or three days and he said ‘this is a good horse’. As time went on, he did become that horse.

“He sort of got bored of it at home and he wasn’t working very special and he was doing his bit. He then came here and went off 28-1 and I don’t know how we let that happen, but it did, and he won very well that day.

“He had grown up a lot today and travelled like a professional. He always looked like he was going better than all of them, and he looks like a Guineas horse to me for next year.

“We could maybe go for the Racing Post Trophy, though Dobbsy said he wasn’t mad about that ground. I think he will have another one or two races.

“We could look at the Lagardere for instance, as his sire won that. He would be that sort of horse. He would be better on a flatter track or you have got the Dewhurst.”

Earlier in the afternoon the Crisfords were smiling after their Maamora made all in the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes.

Will Buick barely saw a rival as he steered the 14-1 shot home under a canny ride.

The Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes is the end of season target.