Latest news with #Coral-EclipseStakes
Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Aidan O'Brien says Delacroix 'on York programme' not Glorious Goodwood path
The Ballydoyle trainer confirmed the Coral-Eclipse Stakes winner will head to the Juddmonte International despite bookmakers' slashing his odds for the Sussex Stakes on Thursday Aidan O'Brien insists Delacroix remains on course for next month's Juddmonte International - despite a wholesale gamble on the Coral-Eclipse Stakes hero for the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. The beaten Derby favourite, who redeemed his reputation with a neck defeat of Ombudsman over a mile and a quarter at Sandown Park 12 days ago, was available at 16-1 on Wednesday for the Visit Qatar-sponsored Group 1 test. Market support down to 5-1 triggered speculation Delacroix would step back to a mile for a clash with Sussex Stakes hotpot Field Of Gold, an imperious winner of the Irish 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes on his last two starts. William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps said: 'We're less than two weeks away from the Sussex Stakes, and the much-anticipated clash between Field Of Gold and Delacroix could be coming sooner than we thought. 'The Juddmonte had seemed their potential first head-to-head, but we've taken notable money for Aidan O'Brien's Eclipse hero to see him more than halve in price for the Sussex. 'He's now a 5-1 shot from 16s, and while he still has a way to go to get to Field Of Gold at 4-7 favourite, his price collapse could suggest that Ballydoyle are seriously considering dropping him back to the mile. "We'd still expect Field Of Gold to be very hard to beat over this course and distance, but their meeting would be a tantalising prospect for racing fans.' But O'Brien stressed the Knavesmire on August 20 - he is set to be joined in the York line-up by Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) victor and Eclipse fourth Camille Pissarro - is still next on the Dubawi colt's to-do list, Ballydoyle's Henri Matisse, winner of the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas) at Longchamp before a second to Field Of Gold at Royal Ascot, will seek revenge on his John and Thady Gosden-trained rival on the South Downs in 12 days' time. 'The plan for Delacroix and Camille Pissarro is that they are both on the York programme,' O'Brien reported on Thursday. 'Henri Matisse will go for the Sussex.' O'Brien's Minnie Hauk is William Hill's 2-9 favourite to add Saturday's Irish Oaks to her triumph in the Epsom original after a total of seven rivals were declared for the Curragh Classic yesterday.
Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Aidan O'Brien Eclipse winner smashed in betting for Field Of Gold clash at Goodwood
Delacroix, the colt who took down hot favourite Ombudsman at Sandown, could be on course to meet another Royal Ascot star in the Sussex Stakes Aidan O'Brien may be preparing to take down another John and Thady Gosden Royal Ascot winning star with Eclipse hero Delacroix. Delacroix, who was the beaten favourite in the Derby, dropped down in distance to tackle the 1m2f Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown earlier this month. It looked a tough assignment against hot favourite Ombudsman who had earned the highest rating in the world this year when landing the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot for John and Thady Gosden. Yet despite dropping back to last, meeting trouble in running, getting bumped and stumbling, he managed to recover and mow down the 6-4 favourite to score by a neck. O'Brien revealed no immediate running plans for the colt who holds multiple Group 1 engagements. But a huge clue emerged on Thursday when Delacroix was a major mover in the betting for the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in 13 days' time. The market for the £1 million Group 1 1m race has been headed by Field Of Gold since Royal Ascot when the Irish 2,000 Guineas winner landed the St James's Palace Stakes by three and a half lengths. Last year's Sussex Stakes winner Rosallion, second in the Queen Anne Stakes last time, is also in the field as well as his conqueror Docklands in the first major clash at the distance between the top three-year-olds and older horses. Field Of Gold is the general odds-on favourite but the odds of Delacroix collapsed to 5-1 from 16-1 in William Hill's market after the firm took 'notable' bets. Spokesperson Lee Phelps said: 'We're less than two weeks away from the Sussex Stakes, and the much-anticipated clash between Field Of Gold and Delacroix could be coming sooner than we thought. 'The Juddmonte had seemed their potential first head-to-head, but we've taken notable money for Aidan O'Brien's Eclipse hero to see him more than halve in price for the Sussex. 'He's now a 5-1 shot from 16s, and while he still has a way to go to get to Field Of Gold at 4-7 favourite, his price collapse could suggest that Ballydoyle are seriously considering dropping him back to the mile. "We'd still expect Field Of Gold to be very hard to beat over this course and distance, but their meeting would be a tantalising prospect for racing fans.'
New Paper
04-07-2025
- Sport
- New Paper
Old guard firm up in Sandown classic
SANDOWN The £1 million (S$1.7 million)Coral-Eclipse Stakes (2,000m) is named after one of the greatest racehorses of the 18th century, and one who reportedly had to walk more than 2,000km to compete in races around Britain. Since those far-off days, this Group 1 event has had a long history of attracting world class equine talents, and again that is the case at Sandown Park on July 5. A potent mix of generations includes three-year-old Group 1 Classic winners Ruling Court (2000 Guineas, 1,600m) at Newmarket and Camille Pissarro, last month's Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) victor over 2,100m at Chantilly. The latter will be partneredatSandown by Christophe Soumillon with Ryan Moore staying loyal to fellow Aidan O'Brien-trained contender Delacroix, who was disappointing when a beaten favourite in theGroup 1 Epsom Derby (2,400m). Though Epsom "also-rans" do not have a great record in the Eclipse, clearly much better is expected of the twice impressive Leopardstown Group 3 winner over 2,000m this season. Three-year-olds are on a roll in the Eclipse Stakes, having landed the last fourrunnings, but the older horses look formidable this year with Ombudsman catapulted to favouritism after his superb winning display in what looked a strong renewal of last month's Group 1 Princeof Wales's Stakes (2,000m) at Royal Ascot. The Godolphin colt appeared to be having a nightmare trip there, but when a gap appeared his change of gear was instantaneous. His jockey William Buick sent an ominous warning after the son of Night Of Thunder captured his fifth win in six starts. "He was an unknown quantity coming into Ascot but he was impressive there, very impressive," said Buick. "He has low miles on the clock and I think that was a taste of what is to come." It is a fast turnaround (17 days) between runs, a reason why the Princeof Wales's Stakes-Eclipse Stakes double is rarely achieved. However, Ombudsman's joint-trainer Thady Gosden remains upbeat. "Obviously it is very tight and you'd rather give them longer. But he hasn't had a hard season," said Gosden who trains in partnership with his father John. "He hasn't had a hard career really, so we thought why not see if he'd be ready for a race like this." The other older star in the six-horse field is the Andre Fabre-trained Sosie. The Sea The Stars six-year-old was ridden by Maxime Guyon in all six of his career wins, a tally that includes two stylish Group 1 ParisLongchamp victories this season, latterly when his acceleration proved decisive in the Prix d'Ispahan (1,800m) in May. Fabre has not had an Eclipse Stakes contender for 20 years and although the Chantilly-based maestro has described Sosie as "more of a mile-and-a-half horse" those two eye-catching 2025 victories have come over trips nearer to this one, while the uphill straight at Sandown Park places an obvious premium on stamina. Sosie is surely a very serious threat to all if he handles likely faster ground at Sandown. HKJC
Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Oisin Murphy issues apology to passenger after crashing car while drunk
The champion jockey said in a statement that there was no excuse for his actions and that he had let a lot of people down after being fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has issued a public apology after he was fined £70,000 and banned from driving for 20 months after admitting a drink driving offence on Thursday. The four-time British champion Flat rider appeared at Reading magistrates court on Thursday as a result of his involvement in a serious road traffic collision in Hermitage, West Berkshire in April this year in which a grey Mercedes A Class car left the road and crashed into a tree. The 29-year-old pleaded guilty to one count of driving a motor vehicle while over the prescribed limit of alcohol. The court was told that Murphy had been the driver of the Mercedes which was owned by his unnamed female passenger, who was hospitalised. Police said he appeared intoxicated but no breath test sample was taken at the scene due to 'a misunderstanding between him and the officers'. Following his arrest Murphy was taken to a police station where a breath test, carried out nearly seven hours later, recorded a result of 66 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath which was 'just shy of twice the legal alcohol limit', the court heard. During a police interview Murphy was 'unable to assist in terms of why the accident occurred and didn't have any memory of the event'. District Judge Sam Goozee fined Murphy £70,000, ordered him to pay a £2,000 surcharge plus £85 costs, to be paid by June 31. His licence was disqualified for 20 months but will get a 20 week reduction if he completes a drink driving rehabilitation scheme by August 2026. Murphy left the court without making comment but later published a statement on his X account. He said: 'I would like to sincerely apologise for my actions. I know that drink driving is unacceptable and there is no excuse for what I did. 'I have let a lot of people down. I particularly want to apologise to my passenger and her family. 'I have so far been able to share only minimal details of my offence with the British Horseracing Authority as a result of the police investigation. I will now be fully co-operative with their enquiries. 'It would not be appropriate for me to comment further until that process is concluded.' Murphy is due to fly to New York to ride at Saratoga on Friday night and return Saturday when he is booked for the 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. The BHA said he was free to take those mounts and continue riding. A statement said: 'Everyone at the BHA, like all involved in our sport, is disappointed today having learned the details of the offence to which Oisin Murphy has pleaded guilty. This is a very serious offence that, in the course of being committed, saw Mr Murphy jeopardise not only his own safety but that of his passenger and all other people travelling on the roads at the same time as him that night. 'His conduct fell a long way short of the standard we expect of all licensed individuals, in whom we place trust that they will represent our sport to the best of their abilities, upholding our collective reputation and ensuring racing is a safe place for all. 'In light of Mr Murphy's guilty plea and the information revealed in court today, we will be working on the addition of new conditions on his licence that may be referred to the Licensing Committee for their consideration. As has been the case in recent weeks, Mr Murphy remains free to take up his riding engagements. 'We will issue an update on this process in due course and will be making no further comment at this time.'
RTÉ News
10-06-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Pulled muscle rules Economics out of Royal Ascot
The William Haggas-trained Economics will miss his intended seasonal comeback in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot after meeting with a setback. The 2024 Irish Champion Stakes winner, who was last seen in action finishing sixth behind Anmaat in the British version of the race at Ascot in October, was a general 5-1 second favourite for next Wednesday's Group One contest. Haggas confirmed the unfortunate news, telling the Racing Post: "Economics had an awayday at Newbury, where he worked nicely and the most important thing was his scope was clean after the work. "We were happy with him but we found he had pulled a muscle afterwards, so we've had to back off him since and I'm afraid we've run out of time for Ascot." Economics does hold an entry in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on 5 July, but his participation for that contest has to be in doubt.
