Mills hoping for Close victory

Connections of Close To You are in bullish mood ahead of the Iveco Daily Solario Stakes at Sandown tomorrow.

Terry Mills’ two-year-old heads a list of seven entries for the Group Three contest after claiming an impressive hat-trick of victories this summer.

After making a pleasing debut at Windsor, the son of Shinko Forest went on to score at Folkestone and Lingfield, before sluicing to a five-length success in a conditions event at Newbury last time out.

What made that last win all the more impressive was that it was accomplished on soft ground, which is not considered ideal for Mills’ juvenile.

And with the ground expected to be on the softer side of good at Sandown, Robert Mills, the trainer’s son, believes that experience should stand him in good stead when stepping into Group company tomorrow.

“He’s in great nick and we are confident of a good run,” confirmed Mills junior. “We are drawn a bit wide and the conditions might not be great but he’s done it before when he’s not enjoyed the ground.

“Nine times out of 10 class will show when a horse is up against it, as our’s did at Newbury. This is obviously far tougher but he deserves to be there and there’s more to come from him.”

If all goes to plan in the seven-furlong event, Mills revealed Close To You will go for the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes in October.

“It’s rare as a relatively small yard that we’ve got the chance to think about a race like this so hopefully we can take our chance,” added Mills.

“The Dewhurst is a definite option and the Solario can be seen as steppin stone towards that race. He’s a good horse and should hopefully give a good account of himself.”