SOLARIO RACING were sponsors of the “lucky last” at Windsor yesterday, The Solario Racing Personal Racing Syndication Handicap and indeed it was lucky as Spring Romance, won his third race of the year in just four starts!
On a scorching hot day during which temperatures reached the mid-20s and when the ground was officially Good To Firm but was probably riding quicker, some 11,000 adults flocked to Windsor on Family Fun Day.
The 3yo son of Zebedee has really blossomed this year and after a win and runner-up spot at Wolverhampton and a win at Lingfield, all on the all-weather, “Neville” had climbed the handicap from 40 to 65. Yesterday was his first run back on grass in some nine months and while he had been in good form at home, there was concern about the drying ground. The horse was also being dropped back to five furlongs, so there were some questions to be answered.
Weak in the market at 9/2, Spring Romance went off fourth favourite. He was slightly run off his feet early on but after being shaken up by Jack Duern two out and being given a couple of reminders inside the final half furlong, he took off and showed a great turn of foot to come hurtling down the middle of the track. He won going away by three-quarters of a length from one of the co-favourites, Kodiak Express.
The owners, including family and friends, were some 30 strong and they were rather vocal to say the least as “Neville” crossed the line! Stable lass, Alex Humphreys was particularly pleased as it was her birthday. She seemed to be fighting back the odd tear but that may have been down to the rather discordant rendition of Happy Birthday by Solario Racing’s owners!
Winning races is hard enough but to hatch a plan with the sponsors winning their own race, well one couldn’t wish for a better script!