Solow (foaled 24 January 2010) is a British-bred, French-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He is best known for his outstanding 2015 season, during which he won several major Group One races and was named Cartier Champion Older Horse.
Background
Solow is a grey gelding bred in the United Kingdom by his owners, Wertheimer et Frère. He was sired by Singspiel, an international campaigner whose major wins included the Canadian International Stakes, Japan Cup, Dubai World Cup, Coronation Cup, and International Stakes. Solow was the first foal of his dam, High Maintenance, a stayer who won two races and finished third in the Prix Gladiateur. His dam's dam, Fabulous Hostess, was a high-class racemare who won the Prix Fille de l'Air, Prix Corrida, and Prix de Royallieu.
Solow was trained by Freddy Head at Chantilly. He was ridden in most of his early races by Olivier Peslier, with Maxime Guyon taking over as his regular jockey in 2015.
Racing Career
Early career (2012–2013)
Solow began his racing career in a maiden race over 1600 metres at Longchamp Racecourse on 2 September 2012, finishing third. He showed moderate form in his first two seasons, winning only one minor race as a three-year-old, the Prix de Clichy over 2400 metres at Longchamp in June 2013.
2014: Four-year-old season
Solow improved significantly as a four-year-old, winning five of his six races. His major victories that year included the Group Three Prix Quincey at Deauville and the Group Two Prix Daniel Wildenstein at Longchamp.
2015: Five-year-old season
Solow emerged as one of the best racehorses in the world in 2015. His major wins that season included:
- Dubai Turf (Meydan, 1800 metres) — won by four and a quarter lengths from The Grey Gatsby
- Prix d'Ispahan (Longchamp, Group One) — defeated the veteran Cirrus des Aigles
- Queen Anne Stakes (Royal Ascot, Group One) — won by a length and a neck from Esoterique
- Sussex Stakes (Goodwood, Group One) — won by half a length from Arod
- Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Ascot, Group One) — won by three quarters of a length from Belardo, with Gleneagles finishing sixth
Following his win in Dubai, he was rated the third best racehorse in the world in the April 2015 edition of the World's Best Racehorse Rankings. On 10 November 2015, Solow was named Cartier Champion Older Horse at the 25th edition of the Cartier Racing Awards.
2016: Six-year-old season
Solow made his seasonal debut in the Prix Montjeu in early March 2016 and won easily by one and a half lengths from Vadamos.
Race Record and Earnings
Solow compiled a career record of 18 starts: 13 wins, 2 seconds, and 1 third, with total earnings of approximately £4,049,721.
Pedigree
Solow is inbred 4 × 4 to Northern Dancer, meaning that this stallion appears twice in the fourth generation of his pedigree, and 5 × 5 to Sir Gaylord, meaning that this stallion appears twice in the fifth generation of his pedigree.
