Trainer Ed Walker admitted to the assembled media at Sandown Park that he had some trepidation about running Alfred Wallace just ten days after the Acomb at York, but the son of Dubawi showed plenty of zest to claim the Group Three BetMGM Solario Stakes on Bet MGM 80’s Raceday.

Alfred Wallace is all heart and took his earnings through the £100,000 barrier on his seventh run of a busy but productive two-year-old campaign.

"What a dude," said Walker. "I was really cross with myself, because the plan has been to come straight for this and I got tempted by York. I probably didn't give [winner] Haffner the respect he deserved in the Acomb. But when I saw the entries for this, I thought we've got to put him in it. He's a tough little horse who helped me out of trouble.

"You can't see a rib on him and he has got such a great appetite for it. A few high-profile non-runners probably helped but our horse has that battle-hardened experience and he's so tough."

After adding a first win at Group level to last month's Listed success at Ascot, Alfred Wallace is set to be tested at the highest level before the season is out.

"By the laws of physics he's going to find life a bit tougher next year when the bigger, more backward horses are coming out and we'll definitely have a shot at a Group One this term," said Walker. "He's entered in everything and we'll probably run him in all of them."

There was a massive shock in the BetMGM Group Three Atalanta Stakes when Love Dynasty got the better of Noche Clasica in a titanic finish to the one mile contest by a neck for Kevin Ryan with Neil Callan aboard.

Winning rider Callan was keen to keep her close to the pace throughout and believes she could be worth a tilt at the highest level should the rain continue into the autumn.

"She's very lightly raced and has never really put a foot wrong," he said. "Over a stiff mile on soft ground, I thought I would hoof her out and make sure I held an early position. I just wanted a nice clean passage with her and to keep the momentum rolling."

Asked if the winner would be suited to a race like the Sun Chariot, he added: “A stiff mile on really soft ground is just what she wants and, if it turns into a bog, I can imagine she’d run.”

Kokbastau extended his winning sequence to three when overcoming trouble in running and a 14lb rise to land the one mile two furlongs handicap.

After losing his maiden tag by a neck at Southwell, the three-year-old colt out of Wootton Bassett gained a one mile four furlongs all-weather win by five lengths at Kempton three weeks ago. This slight step down in trip and softer conditions aided his hat-trick attempt.

Winning trainer Roger Varian said: “I’ve always loved him. We did a lot wrong today and he’s not the finished article, but he’s a nice horse.

"He got a stone rise for winning a lesser race at Kempton very well and I thought this race would really suit him. He got into a bit of trouble but was brave enough to get out of it."

Kokbastau was making his fifth start, having sustained a serious injury after his sole juvenile appearance.

Varian added: “He had one run last year and suffered a massive fracture at home a fortnight later when we were preparing him for his second.

“It took a long time to recover. The veterinary team did a great job, the owner showed a lot of patience and my team at home did a good job. He has done nothing but improve.”

Brian Meehan’s Tall Trees earned a possible tilt at the Breeders’ Cup after winning for the first time at the fifth attempt in the £40,000 7f maiden for fillies.

The joint-favourite made all under Jamie Spencer and held off newcomer Victoria Night by a head.

Storm Free completed back to back victories in the seven furlongs handicap for trainer James Tate.

Despite getting short of room on the far side rail, Lewis Edmunds switched the gelding who showed an excellent turn of foot to prevail by three quarters of a length.

The easiest winner of the day fell to Victory Gold who made all and was never challenged to land the seven furlongs nursery handicap with Oisin Murphy aboard, giving trainer Saeed bin Suroor his third winner from three runners at the track this season to maintain a perfect 100 per cent record.

By Peter Moore