Eclipsed by a hair’s breadth

CORAL-ECLIPSE winner Ulysses just edged out Barney Roy in the closest finish to a Group 1 contest for many years. In fact, it was so close that many of the Sandown crowd thought it was a deadheat – even after seeing the photo finish print!

Barney Roy made his move but it was clear to all that Jim Crowley was swinging off Ulysses as he delivered his challenge.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained fouryear-old didn’t find quite as much as expected and the pair bobbed past the post together.

A couple of inches past the line,Barney Roy was in front — but Ulysses was ahead by a nostril where it matters.

Crowley said:“That was fantastic. It was great to get the ride on him and I'm very grateful to the owners and Sir Michael Stoute.

“I learnt a lot from riding him last time. The race went really well today and when he got the front he thought he’d done enough. I cruised into the race and my only concern was getting there too soon.

“Fair play to the second,who came back at us, and I wasn’t sure we’d won. It was a great feeling when they called it out.”