Dance To The Music wins Sweet Solera Stakes

Exciting filly Dance To The Music continued an unbeaten start to her career as she repelled Princess Petrol and Venetian Lace in the G3 Sweet Solera Stakes at Newmarket, UK, on Saturday.

Successful on her only previous outing in May, the Dubawi filly jinked right leaving the stalls and soon tracked Venetian Lace in a length second as all five runners made a beeline to the far rail.

Dance To The Music moved up to press Venetian Lace entering the final quarter-mile and the Charlie Appleby-trained filly took up the running over a furlong out before drifting under pressure soon after.

Venetian Lace rallied on the far rail, with Princess Petrol also threatening down the centre of the course.

Dance To The Music found more for Billy Loughnane, seeing off both fillies to prevail by a neck over Princess Petrol. Masar filly Venetian Lace kept on in third, a half-length further back.

Dance To The Music’s victory formed part of a sensational afternoon for her family, with her full-brother Space Blues siring his first G1 winner, Power Blue, in the Phoenix Stakes in Ireland just 15 minutes later.

Appleby said: “It was a very pleasing performance from Dance To The Music. She’s a full-sister to Space Blues and is a lot more forward than her brother. Billy rode her on her debut in the spring and said that she was weak and raw. We have given her all the time at this stage of her career, and we felt this was right time to step up to seven furlongs. “She has that turn of foot, which Billy used today, which has probably won her the race. Space Blues got quicker as he got older and I think this filly will do the same. She is still raw and is only going to improve with time. We might have a look at the G1 Natalma Stakes in Canada for her next.

“It’s been a great few minutes, with Dance To The Music winning at Newmarket and her full-brother Space Blues getting his first G1 winner in Ireland. I’m delighted for everyone involved and, most importantly, I’m delighted for Space Blues himself, who deserves it.”

Meanwhile, Marquisat posted a first Pattern-race success with a courageous victory in the G3 Prix Dubai Racing Club at Deauville, France, on Saturday.

Making his first appearance since finishing sixth in December’s G1 Hong Kong Vase, the Andre Fabre-trained five-year-old made the early running in the extended 12-furlong contest until Sevenna’s Knight strode on into a clear lead after the first three furlongs. Simca Mille moved up to join Marquisat leaving the back, with the Godolphin runner having to delay his challenge after finding himself in a pocket a furlong and a half out.

Cristian Demuro charted a daring route up the inside rail entering the final furlong, with Marquisat responding gamely to hit the front close home and score by a short-neck over Simca Mille.

Military Order put up his best turf performance to date as he went down by a neck to Royal Dubai in the G3 Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock Park, UK.

The Appleby-trained five-year-old twice won on grass earlier in his career but has subsequently scaled greater heights on the all-weather, winning a pair of Listed races and the 2024 G3 Winter Derby.

Smartly into his stride for Tom Marquand, Military Order disputed the early running before settling in fourth on the outside of Haunted Dream as Okeechobee and Haatem led the seven runners.