Fireglow burning bright for Solera

Fireglow will attempt to follow in the hoofprints of Muraaqaba and provide trainer Mark Johnston with a second successive winner in the German-Thoroughbred Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

After finishing a solid fourth in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot, the daughter of Teofilo relished the step up to seven furlongs when registering a smooth victory in the Listed Star Stakes at Sandown on her most recent outing.

Johnston said: "I had two good entries in the race but we decided to run Fireglow. The horse is in good form and the form is clear for everyone to see.

"She won a Listed race last time out so the logical step is to try and win a Group Three with her now."

Godolphin-owned runners have enjoyed a tremendous success in the race, winning five of the last six renewals.

The Charlie Appleby-trained Bint Al Reem will bid to extend their envious record and follow up her course-and-distance maiden victory last month.

Appleby said: "Bint Al Reem is a filly that we have always liked. We were very pleased with how she performed first time out on a racecourse.

"The form has worked out well as the third horse (Notary) has since come out and won a maiden at Goodwood, which is pleasing to see.

"We respect the Johnston filly as she is a Listed winner, but hopefully this is a stepping stone along a well-trodden path we have used before.

"It is a bit tricky to place fillies at this time of year and, ideally, we would have like to find a Listed race, but she is heading the right way and is ready for a step up to this level.

"This race will determine her autumn campaign. If she wins we can look at bold targets like the May Hill and Fillies' Mile and if she doesn't run as well then we will go the nursery route."

Bint Al Reem is not the only filly in the race attempting to preserve an unbeaten record, with the Hugo Palmer-trained Hawksmoor also falling into that bracket.

In her sole outing to date, the Chris Humber-owned filly made an eyecatching debut when slamming her rivals in a maiden over the same trip at Kempton at the start of last month.

The Newmarket handler said: "Hawksmoor is a lovely filly who has had class from the word go.

"It is a big step up in class from winning an all-weather maiden at Kempton but I think she is up to this level.

"The second from her race at Kempton (Dutch Heiress) has boosted the form since having won at Ayr.

"It is a hot race and whoever wins it will need to be smart."

Brian Meehan expects the step up in trip to play into the hands of surprise Haydock maiden winner Blue Bayou, a staying-on third in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes at the track on her next start.

A statement posted on the Manton handler's website, www.brianmeehan.co.uk, read: "Blue Bayou confirmed her initial promise from her maiden win when finishing a rapidly-closing third in the Group Two Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes.

"She has come out of that race well, is working very nicely, and the step up to seven furlongs should be of extra benefit.

"We think she should be very hard to beat."

Marenko will look to banish the memory of her previous visit to Newmarket when she finished last of nine on her debut in a maiden at the July Festival.

The Cheveley Park Stud-owned filly turned that form on its head next time out with a convincing victory in a seven-furlong fillies' maiden at Ascot.

Trainer Richard Hannon said: "She blew the start on her debut at the July meeting and also ran green, but she looked a different filly at Ascot next time, making all and finding more when challenged.

"The runner-up has won since, so the form is solid, and, though the ground will be very different at HQ, there is no reason why she should not cope with it."

Charlie McBride has his eye on trying to sneak a place in order to get some black type with Squash.

McBride said: "Squash ran a very good race at Newmarket on Saturday. She was drawn two and had to come across the middle of the track which didn't help.

"She misbehaved in the stalls and I was a bit surprised she got upset as she is as quiet as a mouse at home and has a great temperament. The smaller field will help her.

"We don't think we are good enough to win it but we want to try grab third place as she is owned by owner-breeders. She is in good form and suited by the seven furlongs so we thought we would give it a go."

The septet is completed by the Mick Channon-trained Opal Tiara, who is the most experienced runner in the race with four starts to her name.


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