Roaring Lion has too much for old rival Saxon Warrior

Gosden trained three-year-old survives steward’s enquiry

ROARING LION battled on bravely to beat his old rival Saxon Warrior in the CoralEclipse at Sandown.

The two classy three-yearolds had the 10-furlong Group One to themselves and no quarter was given in the closing stages.

Hawkbill made the running from Forest Ranger, but the older horses had no answer to the younger generation who dominated the finish.

Roaring Lion (7-4 favourite), trained by John Gosden, passed the post in front by a neck under Oisin Murphy from Aidan O’Brien’s charge which was ridden by his son, Donnacha.

A stewards’ inquiry was called as the two protagonists came close in the final strides, but the placings remained unaltered.

Gosden told ITV Racing: ‘He rode him beautifully and very coolly. He got too far back, he knew that, and he didn’t hurry to get back. It was a very good ride and I’m thrilled.

‘I thought Saxon Warrior was magnificent, so all credit to Aidan O’Brien.’

Gosden added: ‘He ran beyond his trip (in the Derby) and we stood on the Downs right there and then and said “this horse goes for the Eclipse and comes back to a mile and a quarter”.

‘Others seemed to join us on the idea late.

‘It was very sad that the Derby winner (Masar, who was ruled out through injury on Friday) wasn’t here as it would have been a phenomenal race if you had the Guineas and Derby winners and us.

‘It would have been a right old ding-dong over a mile and quarter. He wasn’t here, but we still got a hell of a race.

‘We will freshen up and go to York (for the Juddmonte International). I’m sure we will see the second there and with some luck, we will see Masar there. That will be some horse race.’

Murphy said: ‘Whenever a horse shifts off a line or anything small in a race, the stewards look into it.

‘My horse has caused very little interference, if any, and clearly he was the best horse