Solinus (horse)

Solinus began his racing career in a maiden race over five furlongs in early June. He started the odds-on favourite and won by eight lengths. Later in the month, he was sent to England and moved up in class for the Group Three Coventry Stakes over six furlongs at Royal Ascot. Ridden by Lester Piggott, he started the 7/4 favourite and won by three lengths from Sharpen Your Eye, having taken the lead shortly after half way. Solinus did not reappear until late August, when he started 4/9 favourite for the Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh in which he was opposed by the Railway Stakes winner Thunor. He won very easily by six lengths from Embee Twist. In September, Solinus went back to England to contest the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse. He took the lead and quickened two furlongs from the finish but was overtaken in the closing stages and beaten three quarters of a length by Sexton Blake. Piggott expressed the view that the seven furlong distance was too short for the colt.[1]

Despite Piggott's opinion, Solinus was campaigned exclusively at sprint distances in 1978. He made his first appearance in the Group Three Ballyogan Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse in early June and started second favourite behind the four-year-old Ballad Rock. Ridden by Tommy Murphy, Solinus disputed the lead from the start and won by a head from Ballad Rock. Three weeks later, Solinus was moved up in class for the Group One King's Stand Stakes over five furlongs at Royal Ascot in which he was ridden by Piggott and started the 4/6 favourite. He took the lead soon after the start and drew away from the field in the final furlong to win by four lengths from the Temple Stakes winner Oscilight. On his next appearance, Solinus started 4/7 favourite for the Group One July Cup over six furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse. In what Timeform described as the best sprint race run in England that year, he took the lead after a furlong, turned back the challenge of Double Form, and held off the late run of the French-trained filly Sanedtki to win by a neck.[2]

At York Racecourse in August, Solinus started the 1/2 favourite for the Group Two William Hill Sprint Championship over five furlongs. He raced lazily, following the filly Smarten Up before taking the lead a furlong from the finish and winning by one and a half lengths. Solinus returned to Ireland in September for the Airlie/Coolmore/Castle Hyde Championships over six furlongs at the Curragh. Despite rumours that he had sustained an injury a day earlier, he started favourite and won easily by three lengths from Spence Bay. In October, Solinus was sent to France for the Prix de l'Abbaye over 1000 metres at Longchamp Racecourse. He started the 6/10 favourite despite an unfavourable draw but was beaten three lengths by the two-year-old French filly Sigy.[2]