Breacher backed to shine in Solario Stakes

William Muir expects to have a clearer idea of where he stands with the well-regarded Breacher after he contests the BetMGM Solario Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.

The Cracksman colt made a big impression when making a winning debut at Salisbury at the end of June, after which Muir compared the youngster to his Coronation Cup, King George and Hardwicke Stakes-winning former stable star Pyledriver, who also made a successful start to his career at the Wiltshire track seven years ago.

Breacher has not been seen in competitive action since, with an unsatisfactory blood test ruling him out of a planned return to Salisbury for the Stonehenge Stakes, but he is reported to be back-on song ahead of a step up to Group Three level this weekend.

“I made a statement saying he might be the best I’ve ever trained, but I was talking about a horse running for the first time in his life,” explained Muir, who trained Breacher in partnership with Chris Grassick.

“Pyledriver went on to be an outstanding horse and this horse has got to go there, but if I compared when Pyledriver went to Salisbury and when this horse went to Salisbury, I was more confident with Breacher – I thought Pyledriver would win, but I thought this horse definitely would win.

“That was just on that day and he has now got to stand up and go through. I’m only talking about what I’ve trained, not William Haggas, John Gosden, Aidan O’Brien and Roger Varian – they’ve trained horses like this every day of the week, but this is quite exciting for a small yard.”

With rain forecast, Muir is hoping conditions at Sandown do not deteriorate too much.

He added: “I would have run him at the mile in the Stonehenge, but he’s got the speed for seven (furlongs) – it’s not a problem.

“It depends what the ground does really. I wouldn’t like it to go soft or heavy, I’m not certain that’s what I’m looking for. They say it brings the best out in Cracksmans, but I think his mother (Callendula) and the family have a preference for faster ground.

“We’re looking forward to it, it’s a nice race to go to and we can see where we are. I’m not going there saying we’re going to do this or that, he’s just a very nice horse and we’ll see where we are.”

Breacher is one of 10 juveniles declared for Solario Stakes, a race that has been won by superstars like Raven’s Pass (2007), Kingman (2013), Masar (2017) and Field Of Gold (2024).

The hot favourite is Roger Varian’s Rock Montreal, who carried the Godolphin colours to an impressive debut win at Yarmouth two weeks ago, with Simon and Ed Crisford’s dual winner Sonic Angel also featuring in a quality field.

The other Group Three on the card is the BetMGM Atalanta Stakes, which sees Sir Mark Prescott’s Moon Target have her sights lowered after finishing fourth in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and third in the Prix Rothschild at Deauvile.

She is set to line up as one of two runners for Cheveley Park Stud alongside John and Thady Gosden’s So Regal, who has been off the track since finishing second at York’s Dante Festival in May.

Ralph Beckett’s unbeaten filly Secret Of Life and the Owen Burrows-trained Calendar Girl, who recently made a winning return from a lengthy absence at Haydock, add further strength in depth.