Ulysses wins the Coral-Eclipse in a photo from Barney Roy

3.35 Sandown - Coral-Eclipse Stakes

Result:

1st Ulysses 8/1
2nd Barney Roy 9/4
3rd Desert Encounter 50/1

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Report & Reaction

Master trainer Sir Michael Stoute won the Coral-Eclipse Stakes for the sixth time as Ulysses held off Barney Roy by a nostril in a thrilling finish to a dramatic renewal of one of racing's most important middle-distance prizes that was packed with talking points.

With expected pacemaker Taj Mahal failing to set off at the fractions that might have been imagined, it was Decorated Knight who hit the front over a furlong out under Olivier Peslier, but Ulysses was cruising on his outside under Jim Crowley.

Ulysses burst to the front at the furlong-pole but James Doyle was all the while bringing three-year-old Barney Roy through to make his  challenge.

For the last 150 yards, it was a head-to-head as Barney Roy did his very best to cut down Ulysses, but after a wait the judge confirmed that Ulysses had just managed to hold on.

Favourite Cliffs of Moher endured a journey that Ryan Moore will not want to remember, being hampered and losing ground at a very early stage and then failing to secure a clear run when held in by Barney Roy early in the home straight. He eventually finished fourth, a short-head in front of Eminent.

Winning rider Jim Crowley was diplomatic over the idea that this success meant any more in the light of suggestions he had been jocked off Eminent for Silvestre de Sousa earlier in the week.

"I was just delighted to get back on this horse after finishing third aboard him at Royal Ascot," he said. "We learnt a little about each other that day and this was a fantastic performance.

"It was a real plus riding him there. It was a little bit rough early on but we were away from that and he settled well, whereas he was a bit fresh with me at Ascot.

"I got a fantastic feeling off him at Ascot and possibly got there a little bit too soon there, so that was on my mind a little bit today."

Stoute said he'd been "not confident but hopeful" that Ulysses had just held off Barney Roy.

"I just felt he was holding on, holding on, but I was watching from a poor angle and I just didn't know," he said. "A lot of people congratulated me and said 'Well done, well done', but I said let's just hold on.

"He's very consistent. He's been to Santa Anita and run well in the Breeders' Cup, he's run well on plenty of occasions and when he was well beaten in the Derby he nearly got knocked over twice.

"I wouldn't rule out going back up in trip. He ran a big race at Santa Anita over a mile and a half and he settles better this season so I'd be hopeful.

"I tell you what, Kevin Bradshaw rides this horse every day and he and my head girl Sarah Denniff have done a wonderful job with him."

As for future targets, the trainer - whose post-race celebrations took on on unusually public feel as he received congratulations from racegoers around the winner's enclosure - was reluctant to be drawn on specifics.

"You know what he's in, but let's go home and see how he is in 10 days' time," he said.

Barney Roy's rider, James Doyle, was proud of his mount's performance, on what was a first try at 10 furlongs for the St James's Palace Stakes winner.

He said: "It was a messy race early and we were on top of each other a bit. Ryan (Moore, on Cliffs Of Moher) got hampered down on the inside, but this track isn't ideal for young horses.

"We actually had a lovely run round. He was a little bit green on the track, but he turned into the straight nicely and I thought we'd win.

"Ulysses jumped on us quick and I thought we were definitely beat and then he's rallied back in the last 50 yards.

"In another stride I think we'd have got there, but full credit to him, he's run a stormer."

His trainer Richard Hannon, who shook hands with Stoute as soon as the verdict of the photograph had been announced, said: "He is good horse and he is getting better. We are delighted, he has run a super race. He was just shade unlucky. I'm very proud of him and the team, it was a good effort. He is a brave horse and he is only a baby.

"It was just bad luck. I don't normally believe in luck, but I do now! He will be a very good middle-distance horse for this year and next year. He is in a lot of good races.

"He is still quite inexperienced, but he has run a super race all things considered. He has come back from Ascot - he had a hard race there but he has still come out and run his race here." 

Bookmakers Sky Bet responded to the result by cuttng both the winner and runner-up for the Juddmonte International, but given the winning trainer's post-race mentions of Santa Anita it could be the 9/2 about him winning this year's Breeders' Cup Turf that appeals most.

Last year's winner Highland Reel remains at the head of the betting for that race at 9/4.