By Tom Frary
Aidan O'Brien, who is looking to become the first trainer to saddle the winner of four consecutive renewals of Sandown's G1 Coral-Eclipse, will as expected be represented by both the Wootton Bassett-sired Prix du Jockey Club one-two Constitution River and Hawk Mountain in Saturday's feature.
With his own world record of top-level winners being threatened by the week, the key 10-furlong monument has attracted a field of only seven and boasts only three older horses and two pacemakers.
As expected, Ryan Moore sticks with the exciting Chantilly Classic hero, with Wayne Lordan on Hawk Mountain for only the second time having partnered him to his maiden win at two. He is drawn in stall two, with Constitution River next door in three in what amounts to a near-perfect tactical scenario as opposed to when the pair were drawn in double figures in France last time. Out in seven is another son of the late sire sensation Flushing Meadows, the third Ballydoyle runner and the expected “rabbit”.
Wathnan Racing's recent acquisition Gethin (Ghaiyyath) represents Owen Burrows and James Doyle and exits stall one, while Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's Saddadd (Pinatubo) is in stall five for Roger Varian and Ray Dawson. Ana O'Brien's Jockey Club fourth A Boy Named Susie (Starspangledbanner) is in stall six for Donnacha O'Brien and Oisin Murphy, while Wathnan's pacemaker King's Gambit (Saxon Warrior) has Jamie Spencer booked from stall four.
Saturday, Sandown post time: 15:35 THE CORAL-ECLIPSE-G1, £1,000,000, 3yo/up, 9f 209y SC HORSE SIRE OWNER TRAINER JOCKEY WT 1 Gethin (Ire) Ghaiyyath (Ire) Wathnan Racing Owen Burrows James Doyle 135 2 King's Gambit (Ire) Saxon Warrior (Jpn) Wathnan Racing Harry Charlton Jamie Spencer 135 3 Saddadd (Ire) Pinatubo (Ire) Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum Roger Varian Ray Dawson 135 4 A Boy Named Susie (Ire) Starspangledbanner (Aus) Ana O'Brien Donnacha Aidan O'Brien Oisin Murphy 125 5 Constitution River (Fr) Wootton Bassett (GB) M Tabor/D Smith/Mrs J Magnier/Westerberg Aidan O'Brien Ryan Moore 125 6 Flushing Meadows Wootton Bassett (GB) Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O'Brien Sean Levey 125 7 Hawk Mountain (Ire) Wootton Bassett (GB) Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O'Brien Wayne Lordan 125 Breeders: 1-Elysian Bloodstock Ltd, 2-Roundhill Stud, 3-Godolphin, 4-Soho Susie Partnership, 5-LG Bloodstock, 6-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt, 7-Coolmore
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