BELIEVE it or not, Solow was beaten only four and a quarter lengths when sixth in the Group 2 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier over 15 and a half furlongs on soft ground at Longchamp just 13 months ago.

At that point in his career he was a multiple winner from 10 to 12 furlongs, and as a son of the top-class international performer Singspiel (by In The Wings) the step up to the stayers’ division was a reasonable move.