Team Godolphin Looks To Masar

Godolphin's fine season could continue apace on Saturday with 'TDN Rising Star' Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) a hot prospect in the G3 Betbright Solario S. at Sandown. Rested since his third to the high-class fillies September (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and Nyaleti (Ire) (Arch) in the Listed Chesham S. over this trip at Royal Ascot on June 24, the homebred who had previously beaten the proven group performer Invincible Army (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) on debut over six furlongs at Goodwood on May 25 has stable confidence behind him. “We purposely gave him a break after Ascot and physically he's done very well,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “He got the seven furlongs well in the Chesham and it looks as though he'll have conditions to suit. He's a next year horse on pedigree, but he's come on a lot physically since his last run and we're going into Saturday full of confidence. I can't find any negatives.”

John Gosden has a special affinity with Sandown and Khalid Abdullah's Purser (Mizzen Mast) commands respect as the stable representative. There was much to take out of his racecourse introduction at this distance at Newbury on Aug. 18, where he was hand ridden to score cosily against experienced rivals and it is notable that the yard's two recent winners were Raven's Pass and Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). “He's been straightforward and I thought he was given a super ride by Ryan [Moore] when he won at Newbury,” the owner-breeder's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe commented. “One would hope he learnt a bit from that. This is a big step up, so we'll see how he goes. I wouldn't have thought he'd want the ground too soft.” Alan Spence's Connect (GB) (Roderic O'Connor {Ire}) was impressive when making all and beating Purser's useful stablemate Westerland (GB) (Frankel {GB}) by six lengths over this course and distance on Aug. 2 and trainer Clive Cox said, “His course form is obviously a very strong positive and with the ground on the easy side, it looks like he'll encounter similar conditions to last time,” he commented. “He produced a nice time to win, he's pleased me since and we think he's a progressive horse.”