Sandown’s Eclipse Stakes is a traditional early clash of the generations and there’s a lot more riding on The Gurkha providing his trainer Aidan O’Brien with a record-equalling sixth success in the race than the sustained ante-post support during the week.
O’Brien’s 2016 Group One haul is dominated by the brilliant filly Minding with the Ascot Gold Cup hero Order of St George offering doughty support.
However, in terms of Coolmore’s stallion-making business it is noticeable how The Gurkha’s French Guineas success remains the sole top-flight victory by a three year old Ballydoyle colt and his reputation was tarnished a little by Royal Ascot defeat in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
The Gurkha steps past a mile for the first time today and is up against older horses for the first time on ground which will be softer than ideal.
However this is hardly a vintage Eclipse with just one other Group One winner involved, My Dream Boat, and includes a number of others who are weightier in terms of reputation rather than achievement.
The Time Test team will hope Pat Smullen can carry his big-race momentum into another potentially fascinating clash with The Gurkha's rider, Ryan Moore, although there appears to be significant confidence behind the three year old giving O'Brien a first Eclipse success since So You Think in 2011.
“He came out of Ascot very well. He looks like a horse that could go up to a mile and a quarter and have no problem coming back to a mile again,” O’Brien said.
“Hopefully a deluge won’t come as we wouldn’t run him on heavy ground – hopefully that won’t happen. You’re never sure how they’ll run [(against the older horses)]but we’ve always liked him added the trainer who also runs Bravery (Colm O’Donoghue) in the weekend highlight.
