Dubai Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s former racing manager, saddled his first Group-race winner as a trainer when First Selection won the Solario Stakes at Sandown Park on Saturday.
Ridden by George Baker, the two-year-old made all and held on gamely in the final furlong to score by half a length from Manaafidh, the mount of Pat Dobbs.
Mr Wizard was a further length and a half away in third.
Crisford was delighted to reach a personal milestone and told Channel 4 Racing: “What an absolute star this horse has been, that was his fourth win of the year.
“He is a very honest, straightforward colt with a strong will to win.
“He makes our life so easy, as he has got the talent to go with his courage.
“He has got an incredibly enthusiastic owner [Abdullah Al Mansouri] who picked him out at the breeze-up sales and I think he will want to take him to Dubai for the UAE 2,000 Guineas. He’s got the sort of action to think he will go well on the sand track over there.”
A son of Diktat, First Selection joined an illustrious group of two-year-olds who have won the seven furlong contest in recent years including Alhaarth (1995),
Raven’s Pass (2007) and Kingman (2013).
The race is named after Solario, a successful racehorse in the 1920s and subsequently a leading sire. It was established in 1947,
