The Battle of Titans Continues

At the upper end of English racing, the Coral-Eclipse Stakes marks the first middle-distance Group 1 competition of the year between three-year-olds and their elders.  The distance is 1m 2f. 

Of this year's thirteen entrants, six are older with four-year-old Dylan Thomas IRE (Danehill USA) a doubtful. 

If he remains in, trainer Aiden O'Brien of the Coolmore racing empire has entered six horses including the second favourite George Washington IRE (Danehill USA) who is rated at 131 RPR. 

Gorgeous George's rating reflects his performances at three before retirement to stud last year and his recent return to racing because of a low-sperm count.  

He was fourth at Royal Ascot last month and closing fast at the end.  Negatives for him are that he runs best on good ground and was injured on soft ground.

Sandown Racecourse expects the ground to be good to soft due to continuing showers.

Eleven of the twelve horses are aimed at defeating Peter Chapple-Hyam's three-year-old Authorized IRE (Montjeu IRE) who is the five-length winner of the English Derby. 

He is the favourite, the world's highest-rated younger turf horse at 130 RPR and the third highest-ranked horse in the world.

Despite reuniting top jockey Frankie Dettori with his horse, Chapple-Hyam was so concerned that the Eclipse might become a "false-run race" that he contacted Sheikh Mohammed's bloodstock manager to ask for a pacemaker.

Authorized was purchased by Darley Stud for £15,000,000 and has been leased back to former owners Saleh al Homeizi and Imad al Sagar of Kuwait until he retires.

"I haven't got anything good enough to lead and I was just worried it could turn into a false-run race." said Chapple-Hyam.

"I spoke to John Ferguson and obviously the horse [Authorized] is going to Darley Stud.  It seemed a very good idea to make sure it is a fair race for everyone.  He goes on any ground, so soft going doesn't matter."

Champery USA (Bahri USA), owned by Sheikh Mohammed and trained by Mark Johnson, has been leased to Authorized's connections to act as pacemaker in Saturday's race.  Joe Fanning will ride him and lead from the front if he can. 

Champery will be supplemened for £20,000 increasing prize money to £456,000--the Coral-Eclipse's richest purse.

Malcolm Wallace, director of regulation at the Horseracing Regulatory Authority, said "The HRA is of the opinion that the rules of racing do not prohibit the running of horses as pacemakers as such, provided they run on their merits.  It is fine to set the pace, but going wide and taking one with you or coming off the fence to let another one through is not."

No doubt the stewards will be watching the race very closely to make sure that the race is fair to every competitor.

One can understand Chapple-Hyam's fears as the racing titans square off against each other with his little fella caught in the middle.