Ombudsman and Sosie Headline Star-Studded List of Eclipse Contenders

[Wandering Eyes]

Saturday's G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown is shaping up to be the race of the season so far after a plethora of Group 1 winners were confirmed on Monday, headed by the John and Thady Gosden-trained Ombudsman.

The son of Night Of Thunder came of age at Royal Ascot when winning the G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes and only has one defeat on his record from six career starts. That came over this course and distance in May when Almaqam (Lope De Vega) produced a dominant performance from the front to win the G3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes, ultimately landing the spoils by a length and three-quarters from the penalised Ombudsman.

Ed Walker's charge could be in opposition again on Saturday, while last year's G1 Champion Stakes winner Anmaat (Awtaad) is another familiar foe in contention for a rematch with Ombudsman, although his connections are keeping a close eye on the forecast before committing to a quick reappearance after his runner-up finish in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes.

“He needs rain to run,” said trainer Owen Burrows. “We're having a look and there are a few showers about Wednesday and Thursday, but he would need a drop of rain. We're on weather-watch a bit, so he's by no means a definite runner.

“The showers are so hit and miss. It feels like you could get a real good thunderstorm as it is so hot and muggy, but you might only get 2-4mm and Andrew Cooper [clerk of the course] would be putting all that and more on with watering, so that's not going to make much difference.

“He's come out of Ascot well, but this is just two and a half weeks later, so I wouldn't want to be running him on fast ground again.”

Andre Fabre has had this race as a target for some time with Sosie (Sea The Stars), who is set to bid for a third consecutive win at the top level, having already won the Prix Ganay and Prix d'Ispahan in two previous starts this season.

Charlie Appleby's 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court (Justify) could aim to bounce back from his defeat in the G1 St James's Palace Stakes, while Aidan O'Brien is responsible for three of the other five three-year-olds in contention, namely Camille Pissarro (Wootton Bassett), the winner of the Prix du Jockey Club, beaten Derby favourite Delacroix (Dubawi) and Expanded (Wootton Bassett).

Jessica Harrington's Hotazhell (Too Darn Hot), who won last year's G1 Futurity Trophy, and Ralph Beckett's Derby fifth Stanhope Gardens (Ghaiyyath) could also represent the Classic generation, while White Birch (Ulysses) makes up the 11-strong list of contenders after his fourth-place finish when trying to defend his G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup crown.

The sponsors have installed Ombudsman as their 13/8 favourite, ahead of Sosie at 9/2.

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