Can Lakota Sioux continue impressive Sweet Solera record for Johnstons?

Saturday: 3.40 Newmarket
Jewson Sweet Solera Stakes (Group 3) | 7f | 2yo fillies | ITV/RTV

Mark Johnston has saddled three of the last eight Sweet Solera winners and perhaps that is the primary reason tail-flashing filly Lakota Sioux is chalked up as the early favourite.

Tail-flashing can be indicative of equine discomfort and has been a recurring theme of Lakota Sioux's three-race career. Despite that negative idiosyncrasy, her finishing efforts have appeared genuine and she boasts a useful level of form.

Lakota Sioux ran third in the Chesham Stakes when last seen but that particular Royal Ascot juvenile contest is working out poorly. Form figures of 25539143728 from those running subsequently, many in lower-quality novices and handicaps, reinforce that notion.

A Racing Post Rating of at least 100 has been required to land the Sweet Solera on all bar one of the last ten runnings and Lakota Sioux's peak 89 at Royal Ascot is 11lb shy of that figure.

However, experience has been a major factor in solving the Sweet Solera as you need to wind the clock back to 2012 to find the last winner arriving off the back of one start. Lakota Sioux, along with Albany Stakes third Ivory Madonna and Dandy Allys, have an edge in that department with three previous outings.

That is not to rule out the once-raced maiden winners lining up. Novakai and Mottisfont looked tidy prospects capable of better with winning efforts at Doncaster and Ffos Las, but there is some synergy between the Ismail Mohammed-trained Alseyoob and 2012 scorer Certify.

Both arrived here off the back of a debut success on the July course around a month earlier and Alseyoob's ability to handle the undulations should see her in the shake-up.

That is something the temperamental Lakota Sioux, the other plausible front-runner in the field, lacks. Alseyoob landed a gamble for the yard when making all over this course and distance last month from subsequent winner Frankness and lightning might strike twice for an in-form outfit.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Ismail Mohammed, trainer of Alseyoob
We know she is class and we have a really good two-year-old filly on our hands. We are happy to go for the Group 3 as she's the best filly we have this year. She's ran at Newmarket and some of the other competitors haven't come here before, so she's got that experience. She's quality at home and I hope she can give us what we've been dreaming of.

Sean Woods, trainer of Inanna
She's in good form and I think Sandown was tough because we went there expecting good ground, but it was soft and very loose on top. She didn't like that one bit and it was frustrating because I think she could've finished third that day. Tom [Marquand] liked her a lot and she's in form. She also beat Lakota Sioux first time out and I'm happy for her to take her chance.

Richard Spencer, trainer of Ivory Madonna
She's in good form and the step up to seven furlongs won't be an issue. She bumped into a very nice filly of Ralph Beckett's on the July course last time out but on ratings she's the highest in the race. She has course form and brings a lot to the table. She ran so well at Ascot and her last run might have come too soon, but she's had a nice bit of time off since then.

Hughie Morrison, trainer of Mottisfont
We weren't that surprised when she won first time out, but we had not done a lot with her. It was a brave performance last time and she'll only improve. George Rooke will ride her again as we like to remain loyal.

Karl Burke, trainer of Novakai
I was very impressed after her debut at Doncaster and her jockey Tom Eaves was also pleased. She did everything well and she deserves her chance. Obviously it's a big step up in class, but she's a well-bred filly and it's important to get the black-type into these fillies. She should go well.
Reporting by Liam Headd

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