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Coral Eclipse Stakes
The Coral Eclipse Stakes are an annual race at Sandown Park open to thoroughbreds over the age of three, which takes place in early July. The Flat race is conducted over a distance of one mile, two furlongs and seven yards. It is also an event with quite a lot of history behind it. The Coral Eclipse Stakes were inaugurated in 1886, only eleven years after Sandown Park Racecourse opened its doors. The premier of the race raised eyebrows due to the impressive prize money of £10,000, which was a higher purse than most races at the time.
Even the name of the event is burdened with history, having been derived from the legendary 18th century thoroughbred Eclipse. (It was originally known as just the Eclipse Stakes, adding the Coral when Coral bookmaking became the event sponsor in 1976.) Although Eclipse started his racing career relatively late, at the age of five, he went on to win 19 race, 18 of them King's Plates. His career was so stellar that Sandown was not the only racecourse to name an event in his honour; Mainsons-Laffitte racecourse in France hosts the Prix Eclipse, while The Eclipse Awards are a popular event in the United States. The race is in fact so popular and well-regarded that Sandown Park host the Coral Eclipse Day in its honour. The Coral Eclipse Stakes is naturally the feature race of this event, which also includes plenty of family entertainment.
With such an illustrious history behind the race it is no surprise that the Coral Eclipse Stakes attract some of the most talented racehorses on the circuit. Winners of the Coral Eclipse Stakes often go on to win some of the Classic races - such as Ard Patrick, Sceptre, Rock Sand and more recently Sea the Stars . As the race upholds high standards, it has only had five multiple winners in its 124 year history; Orme (1892, 1893), Buchan (1919,1920), Polyphontes (1924, 1925), Mtoto (1987, 1988) and Halling (1995, 1996).
Recent Winners of the Coral Eclipse Stakes:
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
2010 |
Twice Over |
Tom Queally |
Henry Cecil |
2:04.64 |
2009 |
Sea The Stars |
Michael Kinane |
John Oxx |
2:03.40 |
2008 |
Mount Nelson |
Johnny Murtagh |
Aidan O'Brien |
2:05.56 |
2007 |
Notnowcato |
Ryan Moore |
Sir Michael Stout |
2:05.85 |
2006 |
David Junior |
Jamie Spencer |
Brian Meehan |
2:07.31 |
2005 |
Oratorio |
Kieren Fallon |
Aidan O'Brien |
2:07.00 |
Coral Eclipse Stakes Odds and News
5 Jul 2010: Twice Over Rocks The Coral Eclipse Stakes
Henry Cecil is celebrating his fourth win in the Coral Eclipse Stakes after Twice Over raced to victory in Saturday’s, 3rd July, feature event. The five-year-old, who came in tenth in last year’s running of the Coral Eclipse Stakes, dominated the field of five for most of the race and proved himself worthy of the favouritism he received from bookmakers and punters alike.
Reduced to five starters after Sir Michael Stoute’s Mawatheeq refused to enter the stalls, the Coral Eclipse seemed off to a shaky start. However, John Gosden’s champion filly Dar Re Mi decided to take a stand early on in the race, with jockey William Buick manoeuvring his mount to the front of the field within the first moments of the race. Unfortunately the pace set by the pair was too ambitious and Dar Re Mi, unable to speed up further, was overtaken by Tom Queally on Twice Over with about a mile to go.
Twice Over was travelling well several furlongs before losing a shoe. While not slowing down significantly, the five-year-old was struggling to maintain his confident lead as Jarvis-trained Sri Putra made a move for the leader under jockey Phillip Robinson. Remarkably, Twice Over managed to pull himself together and be the first to cross the line, with only half a length to spare over Sri Putra, who gave undoubtedly one of the finest performances of his career.
Early leader Dar Re Mi was pushed back to fourth by Aidan O’Brien’s Viscount Nelson, who followed half a length behind Sri Putra under Johnny Murtagh. However, her connections are far from disappointed. Gosden is already planning to enter Dar Re Mi into the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on 24th July. To check out runners and odds for this outstanding race meeting check our recommended bookmakers, like William Hill and Paddy Power, closer to the race date.
| Position | Horse | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1 | Twice Over | 5 | T P Queally | H R A Cecil |
| 2 | Sri Putra | 4 | P Robinson | M A Jarvis |
| 3 | Viscount Nelson | 3 | J P Murtagh | A P O’Brien |
| 4 | Dar Re Mi | 5 | W Buick | J H M Gosden |
| 5 | Zacinto | 4 | R L Moore | Sir M Stoute |
Non-Runner: Mawatheeq
2 Jul 2010: Coral Eclipse Stakes – The Super Six At Sandown
29 Jun 2010: Coral Eclipse Stakes 2010 – Odds Update
29 Jun 2010: Tipstar Supports Coral Eclipse
