The Coral Eclipse Festival at Sandown took place on the 4th-5th July.
The Listed Coral Dragon Stakes for two – year olds over 5 furlongs was taken by Staya. The George Scott trained filly had run a great race at Royal Ascot when fifth of twenty-three in the Queen Mary behind the Ballydoyle winner True Love. The Gala Stakes, another Listed event over a mile and a quarter saw a tight finish when Windlord owned by Juddmonte just got home from Caviar Heights. The Andrew Balding trained and Colin Keane ridden colt by Blue Point fared better in this lesser event having finished down the field behind Field Of Gold in the St James Palace at the Royal meeting.
The stayers race the Coral Marathon registered as the Esher Stakes was another close finish with only four horses going to post. Coltrane took this race for a second time having won this in 2022 under Rob Hornby. He bravely saw off the Tom Clover trained Al Nayyir by a short head under William Buick and providing another winner for Andrew Balding, making it three on the day as he took the Battaash Handicap earlier on the card with Kassaya.
Day two started with the Group 3 Coral Charge registered as the Sprint Stakes. The improving Rumstar took the honours for Jonathon Portman and Rob Hornby. The Listed Coral Distaff was another Juddmonte, Balding and Keane success when Blue Bolt made virtually all to win a length. This brought up 3 wins on the bounce after lesser victories at Windsor and Newbury.
The highlight of the two days saw another close finish when Delacroix under an inspired Ryan Moore somehow got up to “chin” Ombudsman on the line. The winner had far from a clear run and switched to the outside two out and came home strong to hit he front on the line.
Moore is in a league of his own!