Danica Guy’s talented three-year-old Lupo Solitario has been sold to Hong Kong.
A son of Satono Aladdin, Lupo Solitario announced himself with a bold winning performance on debut in August 2023, attracting extensive buyer interest.
His ownership group, including Leighton Howl who purchased the gelding for $82,500 out of Rich Hill Stud’s draft at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales, resisted the sale initially, and Lupo Solitario continued to perform among the best of this season’s three-year-old crop.
“His debut run was really exciting, he was so green and he won so well. He really put his name out there with that run and he just kept improving,” Guy said.
Matamata-based Guy tested Lupo Solitario twice at Group level through his six starts in New Zealand and his runner-up performance behind star three-year-old Crocetti in the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) was one she described as his best.
“His best run was probably for second in the Annie Sarten, he hit the line hard behind Crocetti,” she said.
Lupo Solitario was rewarded for his consistency when defeating subsequent Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Orchestral in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) and had his only finish outside of the top two when finishing eighth in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), also won by the phenomenal filly.
“I think he was only tripped up in his last two starts, one was a wet track, and secondly on Karaka Millions night, we were really badly let down by the track being greasy,” Guy said.
“With his low, flat action and big stride, he just struggled on the ground.
“But I think he’s definitely right up there as one of the best three-year-olds this season.”
Following his Karaka Millions performance, Lupo Solitario was subsequently sold to a long-time client of Guy’s stable, that had previously purchased her 2015 Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) winner Gaultier.
Gaultier continued on to win a further three races in the competitive jurisdiction, while his sire Rios was later purchased and stood at Guy’s Upstage Bloodstock operation from late 2018.
“I’m very excited to have sold him (Lupo Solitario) to a long-time client of the stable, who bought Gaultier off us years ago,” she said.
“He will enjoy the environment up there, he’s very laid back and not much bothers him, so he should acclimatise to it all.
“They have a different tempo to their races so I’m not sure how he’ll go, but I’d imagine the fast tracks up there will suit him well. I definitely think he can make the step out to the 2000m as well.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
