ECLIPSE STAKES
Saturday 6th July, 3:35pm
City Of Troy @ 1/3
Dancing Gemini @ 7/1
Ghost Writer @ 15/2
Jayarebe @ 14/1
Al Riffa @ 16/1
view odds
*prices correct at time of writing.
THE RACE
The £750,000 or – perhaps more relevantly – the €886,000 Group One Eclipse Stakes at Sandown (3-35) has been a highlight of the flat racing summer since it was first staged in the 1880s in honour of the fabled eighteenth century equine star. Ten horses have completed the Derby / Eclipse double, but, although he’s won the ten-furlong feature on seven occasions, never by a runner trained by Aidan O’Brien, who has targeted the Irish Derby with all but one of his Epsom winners. Until now…
THE MARKET
City Of Troy is pretty much unbackable after his recovery romp at Epsom when Ryan Moore once again had to work hard to pull him up afterwards.
O’Brien believes the “unique” son of Justify learnt much from the race, and in a media call that I hosted didn’t appear unduly concerned about the new distance, on a new type of (right-handed) track nor that he was up against older horses this time.
I suppose memories of the Newmarket flop do just serve to temper enthusiasm a tiny bit. Dancing Gemini has just over eight lengths to find with the favourite compared to Epsom when sixth-home, and the reduction in distance is thought likely to suit the French Guineas runner-up.
Ghostwriter ran a close fourth in a high quality 2000 Guineas (possibly unsuited by the Rowley Mile track) before not getting the rub when filling the same position in the Prix du Jockey Club. Jayarebe was a beaten favourite, with a penalty, at Chester but, sixteen days ago, dug deep to see off the useful King’s Gambit at Ascot.
The four-year-old Al Riffa has the big weight-for-age differential to overcome if he’s to gain a first success since a leading juvenile, and over a distance that has looked sharp for him. See The Fire took a definite step forward at Ascot and should relish the distance.
THE WINNER
I couldn’t bet against City Of Troy winning, but hopefully things will pan out better for Ghostwriter as the each-way shout – what about you?
CORN’S QUARTET
No way am I not sticking with Twilight Calls and Ryan Moore (1-50) especially as cheekpieces go on to create an edge. Both runs this season have produced fine efforts, one when getting too far behind at Newmarket and most recently when not beaten far in the King Charles III Stakes at Ascot. And trainer Henry Candy is due a change of fortune.
The Distaff (3-00) contains some upwardly-mobile fillies, certainly including Regal Jubilee, luckless when narrowly-beaten in the Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood. And the Gosdens and Kieren Shoemark are starting to fly along.
Persica (4-47), a striking winner from the front on Derby Day, is back in distance after two furlongs extra didn’t work out at Ascot.
Haydock stages an excellent Old Newton Cup (3-15) in which those of a forgiving nature will grant the first-time blinkered Maghlaak another chance after nothing much went right in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar.
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