The Coral-Eclipse

[my miss storm cat]

Racing Post.....


George Washington set to lead O'Brien's Eclipse attack

by Brian Fleming and Rodney Masters
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AIDAN O'BRIEN gave the go-ahead on Wednesday for George Washington to run in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown a week on Saturday, when the brilliant but mercurial colt will take on the hugely impressive Derby winner Authorized.

The Ballydoyle trainer, who ran eight colts against Authorized at Epsom, is planning a four-pronged challenge for the Eclipse, which he has won three times in the past seven runnings.

Duke Of Marmalade,beaten a neck by stablemate Excellent Art in the St James's Palace Stakes, will be joined by Epsom disappointment Archipenko, who started the well-backed 13-2 third favourite for the Derby only to trail in last of the 17 runners, and fellow Epsom also-ran Admiralofthefleet.

However, one of the big potential rivals to Authorized at Sandown dropped out when it was revealed that Breeders' Cup Turf winner Red Rocks will not only miss the race but also the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascotat the end of next month.

O'Brien, successful in the Eclipse with Giant's Causeway, Hawk Wing and Oratorio, said: "George came out of his last run well along with Duke Of Marmalade and the plan is to run both of them along with Archipenko and Admiralofthefleet in the Eclipse on Saturday week.

"Mick Kinane said the combination of the track and the trip probably didn't suit Archipenko at Epsom. "Oratorio came back in trip to win the Eclipse two years ago after disappointing at Epsom, so it worked out well for him."

George Washington, who is 5-2 second favourite for the Eclipse with the sponsors, will be tackling a mile and a quarter for the first time on turf at Sandown.

He finished sixth behind the recently retired Invasor in the Breeders' Cup Classic on dirt on his one attempt over the trip before his short-lived career at stud.

Having been brought back into training after suffering fertility problems in his short time as a stallion, he was staying on late when finishing a close fourth behind Ramonti over a mile in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Brian Meehan, who won the Eclipse last year with David Junior, said that Red Rocks, who had been a 7-1 chance with Coral, would miss the race, having returned a dirty scope two days after running fourth behind Manduro in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The Manton trainer said: “Red Rocks will miss the Eclipse and King George. However, as we've said all along, his number one target will be to attempt back-to-back wins in the Breeders' Cup Turf."