Opera Cape wins feature event at Sandown

Opera Cape looked a colt with a big future as he lifted the feature event of the day, the Iveco Daily Solario Stakes.

The son of Barathea was always travelling supremely well under Steve Drowne and could be named the winner some way out in the Group Three contest.

When Drowne asked Opera Cape (15-2) to stretch, he did so instantaneously to score by a comprehensive length and three-quarters from Yasoodd, with Asset a further three lengths away in third.

Trainer Sylvester Kirk is now keen to point his winner at the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on October 15.

He said: “I think we would have to consider it after this. It was the way he did it which impressed me. He used to be a highly-strung individual but he is much more relaxed and we will certainly treat him like a good horse.”

Owner Jeff Smith was equally impressed, adding: “Steve said he ran out of running rail where the gap appeared, otherwise it would have been easier and, in my view, that was a good performance beating horses like Asset and Close To You.”

The latter, sent off the 15-8 favourite, never showed in the seven-furlong event, eventually finishing sixth.