Solow – outstanding performance
Favourite Solow surged to a brilliant victory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Saturday while Gleneagles finished in sixth place.
The winner, trained in France by Freddy Head, claimed a three-quarter length victory under jockey Maxime Guyon.
Following the grey gelding home on British Champions Day were outsiders Belardo (33-1) and 66-1 chance Gabrial.
Gleneagles was only confirmed a runner 35 minutes before the race and never threatened to challenge the leaders.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt, which won the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, prefers faster ground and had been a late withdrawal from four races since winning at Royal Ascot in June.
BBC Sport racing correspondent Cornelius Lysaght:
“Champions Day may take a few more years to rival Arc weekend in Paris or the US’s Breeders’ Cup, but in front of 30,967 this feels more and more special.
“Champions-wise we saw two exceptional talents. Solow marches on, again doing all that was asked of him in the QEII and extending his unbeaten run. He will be back next year and could rack up a very long sequence.
“In the Sprint, Muhaarar demonstrated himself to be the best European speedster since his dad Oasis Dream in 2003; sadly stud duties now beckon.”
Gleneagles – Regret
Aidan O’Brien – hindsight an exact science
O’Brien had a hint of regret about running Gleneagles, who could now head for the Breeders’ Cup meeting at the end of the month.
“We knew it would be tough to come here,” said O’Brien. “He’d not had a break from training all summer and, with the benefit of hindsight, I should have said we won’t run him and wait again, like the other times.
“But we had our eye on the Breeders’ Cup Classic and we felt to run him there, we had to run him today.”
There were no such fears for the 11-10 favourite Solow, who was clocking up a fifth Group One triumph in 2015.
Guyon said Solow – winning for the ninth time on the trot – was the best horse he has ridden.
“Solow’s amazing, he’s very easy and he’s the best. He makes it very simple for the jockey to ride him,” said the 26-year-old Frenchman.
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