Solford

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Solford was an American-bred, Irish-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and later a sire. He was foaled on 31 January 1980, bred by King Ranch in Kentucky, and trained by Vincent O’Brien at Ballydoyle, Ireland. He came from a strong pedigree, being by Nijinsky (Nijinsky II) and out of the mare Fairness.

Two-year-old season
Solford won his first two races at the Curragh and Leopardstown, both times as the favorite. He then stepped up to the three-year-old scene with high expectations but was slightly hampered by illness early in the year.

Three-year-old season
After a brief setback, he returned to win the Prix du Lys (Group 3) at Chantilly, wearing blinkers for the only time in his career. He then moved up to Group 1 level for the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, where he won a tight finish by a head, beating Muscatite.

In August, Solford ran in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York as the second-favorite but finished fourth behind Teenoso and other rivals.

Assessment
In 1983, Solford was rated 127 by Timeform. The official International Classification placed him as an 84, roughly joint eighth among the season’s three-year-old colts.

Stud record
Solford retired from racing at the end of 1983 to become a breeding stallion at Winfield Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. He was not a successful sire, with Enzo (winner of the Eyrefield Stakes at the Curragh in 1990) being one of his better offspring.

Pedigree
Solford’s sire was Nijinsky, a son of Northern Dancer, and his dam was Fairness.