Brave quartet seek to eclipse Golden Horn
Epsom Derby winner the red-hot favourite to win Sandown Park showpiece on Saturday
By Racing & Special Features Writer
Epsom Derby (G1) sensation Golden Horn appears to have scared off most of his rivals for Saturday’s £450,000 (Dh2.59 million) Group 1 Coral Eclipse Stakes with only four horses daring to take him on in the Sandown Park showpiece.
John Gosden’s stable star trounced his rivals in the English Classic three weeks ago and since then has developed a seemingly indestructible image on the markets.
Golden Horn is as short as 4/11 with most British bookmakers to give his Classic-winning handler a second success in the race in just four years, while former French Derby (G1) and Irish Champion Stakes (G1) victor, The Grey Gatsby (7/2), is the public choice as the horse most likely to cause an upset. Gosden landed the Eclipse in 2012 with Nathaniel.
Gosden has also left in Brigadier Gerard Stakes winner Western Hymn (14/1), while five-time Eclipse winning trainer Aidan O’Brien takes his chances with Cougar Mountain, who hopes to improve on his third place effort in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot earlier this month.
Andrew Balding’s Doncaster Mile Stakes scorer Tullius completes the field of five.
Golden Horn, the only threeyear-old in the field, bids to become the first Epsom Derby winner since Sea The Stars in 2009 to win the Eclipse.
Other notable winners from the Classic generation include Hawk Wing (2002), Giant’s Causeway (2000), Nashwan (1989), Dancing Brave (1986) and Saddler’s Wells (1984).
Dubai’s Godolphin stable, who have won the race on four occasions are without a runner. In 1998 Team Godolphin team recorded an extraordinary onetwo-three in the race as the exceptional grey Daylami gained revenge on his Royal Ascot conqueror Faithful Son with Central Park taking third place.
Gosden, whose horses have been in rude health is looking forward to seeing Golden Horn return to action following his Epsom exploits.
“He’s in good order and at the moment touch-wood he’s going the right way.” Gosden said.
Commenting on the ground conditions, Andrew Cooper, the track’s director of racing, told The Guardian earlier this week: “It’s pretty much good ground at the moment.
“The first half of the week looks like being one of rapidly increasing temperatures, with yesterday flagged up as the hottest day of the week at 32 or 33, something like that.
“Equally, once we get to Wednesday [yesterday] there is a suggestion of thunderstorms being possible through the latter part of the week, but quite scattered and isolated.
Saturday’s card also feature some strong support races.