Coral Eclipse

James Dooley avatar

Written By:

Updated:

The Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park is one of the most prestigious middle-distance races in Europe.

The Coral Eclipse takes place on Saturday 8th July 2023.

It often features a clash of the generations with top three-year-olds taking on their elders for the first time.

Notable Eclipse winners include Mill Reef (1971), Brigadier Gerard (1972), Dancing Brave (1986), Sea The Stars (2009) and Enable (2019).

Coral Eclipse

Coral Eclipse Group 1 – The Race Overview

The Eclipse takes place in early July over ten furlongs (officially 1m 1f 209y).

Sandown Park is a right-hand track with an uphill finish which can test a horse’s stamina, particularly in fast-run races. It can be difficult to make up a lot of ground here and horses that race prominently have a good record in this race.

Famous Coral Eclipse Winners & Coral Eclipse History

The Group 1 Eclipse Stakes is named after a racehorse who retired undefeated after 18 races in the eighteenth Century. He went on to become one of the most influential stallions in the history of horse racing.

The Eclipse Stakes was launched as Britain’s richest ever race in 1886 with victory going to Bendigo.

Ayrshire became the first Derby winner to win the Eclipse in 1889 and it has consistently attracted top quality fields. Coral took over sponsorship of the race in 1976, making it the longest-running sponsored Pattern race in Britain.

There have been five dual winners of the Eclipse Stakes. Mtoto won in 1987 and 1988 with Halling being the most recent to record back-to-back Eclipse victories in 1995 and 1996. Enable attempted to add her name to the list in 2020 but was denied a second success by the front-running Ghaiyyath. The winner provided a sixth victory for Godolphin, the most successful owners in the history of the race.

The Eclipse rivals the Irish Derby as the next objective for Epsom Derby winners. A Grade 1 victory over ten furlongs is attractive to the breeding industry and Nashwan (1989), Sea The Stars (2009) and Golden Horn (2015) all dropped back in distance to win this race.

Derby winners beaten here include Erhaab (1994), Benny The Dip (1997), Motivator (2005) and Authorized (2007).

Key Coral Eclipse Trials

The Eclipse Stakes betting market is often dominated by Classic colts from the Derby and 2000 Guineas.

As well as often attracting the Derby winner, colts that did not stay a mile and a half at Epsom frequently run here. Roaring Lion (2018) was a classic example of this, not quite able to stay the Derby distance but proving to be a champion at this trip.

Hawk Wing (2002) had been beaten by stable companion High Chaparral in the Epsom Classic before winning here.

2005 winner Oratorio also ran in the Derby and finished only tenth behind Motivator. He caused an upset by reversing the form in the Eclipse.

Top races at Royal Ascot also provide clues to the outcome of the Coral Eclipse. The Queen Anne Stakes and the Prince of Wales’s Stakes feature in the key trials.

Coral-Eclipse 2023 Odds

The odds for the Coral-Eclipse are listed below:

Coral-Eclipse Tips

Our tips for the Coral-Eclipse are below:

  • 2 points to win for TBC at odds of TBC
  • 1 point each way for TBC at odds of TBC

For racing suggestions on more races at the Sandown Park, check out our tips guide.

Our greatest horse racing tipsters provide free race advice for today for all Sandown racing events!

Coral-Eclipse Previous Winners

Check out the previous winners below:

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwnerTime
1886Bendigo6Tom Cannon Sr.Charles JousiffeH. T. Barclay2:12.4
1888Orbit3Tom Cannon Sr.John Porter1st Duke of Westminster2:14.0
1889Ayrshire4Fred BarrettGeorge Dawson6th Duke of Portland2:14.0
1891Surefoot4John LiddiardGarrret MooreA W Merry2:15.0
1892Orme3George BarrettJohn Porter1st Duke of Westminster2:15.0
1893Orme4Morny CannonJohn Porter1st Duke of Westminster2:11.8
1894Isinglass4Tommy LoatesJames JewittHarry McCalmont
1895Le Justicier3T FrenchW WebbBaron Arthur de Schickler
1896St. Frusquin3Tommy LoatesAlfred HayhoeLeopold de Rothschild
1897Persimmon4John WattsRichard MarshPrince of Wales
1898Velasquez4Charles WoodW Walters5th Earl of Rosebery
1899Flying Fox3Morny CannonJohn Porter1st Duke of Westminster
1900Diamond Jubilee3Herbert JonesRichard MarshPrince of Wales
1901Epsom Lad4Santiago GomezLuis AlvarezJames Buchanan
1902Cheers3Danny MaherWeston Goodwin8th Duke of Devonshire
1903Ard Patrick4Otto MaddenSam DarlingJohn Gubbins
1904Darley Dale3Danny MaherJohn Porter6th Duke of Portland
1905Val d'Or3George SternRobert DenmanEdmond Blanc2:09.8
1906Llangibby4Danny MaherPeter GilpinLudwig Neumann
1907Lally4Bernard DillonTom LewisWilliam Purefoy
1908Your Majesty3Walter GriggsCharles MortonJack Barnato Joel
1909Bayardo3Danny MaherAlec Taylor Jr.Alfred W. Cox
1910(dh)LembergNeil Gow33Bernard DillonDanny MaherAlec Taylor Jr.Percy PeckAlfred W. Cox5th Earl of Rosebery
1911Swynford4Frank WoottonGeorge Lambton17th Earl of Derby
1912Prince Palatine4Frank O'NeillHenry BeardsleyThomas Pilkington
1913Tracery4Albert WhalleyJohn WatsonAugust Belmont Jr.
1914Hapsburg3Cornelius FoyWilliam HalseySir Ernest Cassel
1919Buchan3Joe ChildsAlec Taylor Jr.Waldorf Astor
1920Buchan4Frank BullockAlec Taylor Jr.2nd Viscount Astor
1921Craig an Eran3Frank BullockAlec Taylor Jr.2nd Viscount Astor
1922Golden Myth4Charlie ElliottJack JarvisSir George Bullough
1923Saltash3Jack BrennanAlec Taylor Jr.2nd Viscount Astor
1924Polyphontes3William McLachlanEtienne L. de MestreSolomon Joel
1925Polyphontes4Harry WraggWalter EarlSolomon Joel
1926Coronach3Joe ChildsFred Darling1st Baron Woolavington
1927Colorado4Tommy WestonFrank Butters17th Earl of Derby
1928Fairway3Tommy WestonFrank Butters17th Earl of Derby
1929Royal Minstrel4Joe ChildsCecil Boyd-RochfortJohn Hay Whitney
1930Rustom Pasha3Harry WraggDick DawsonAga Khan III
1931Caerleon4Tommy WestonGeorge Lambton17th Earl of Derby
1932Miracle3Harry WraggJack Jarvis6th Earl of Rosebery
1933Loaningdale4Joe ChildsCecil Boyd-RochfortGuy Wilson
1934King Salmon4Harry WraggOssie BellRichard Brooke
1935Windsor Lad4Charlie SmirkeMarcus MarshMartin Benson
1936Rhodes Scholar4Bobby DickJoe Lawson2nd Viscount Astor
1937Boswell4Pat BeasleyCecil Boyd-RochfortWilliam Woodward Sr.
1938Pasch3Gordon RichardsFred DarlingHenry Morriss
1939Blue Peter3Eph SmithJack Jarvis6th Earl of Rosebery
1946Gulf Stream3Harry WraggWalter Earl17th Earl of Derby
1947Migoli3Charlie SmirkeFrank ButtersAga Khan III
1948Petition4Ken GethinFrank ButtersSir Alfred Butt
1949Djeddah4Charlie ElliottCharles SemblatMarcel Boussac
1950Flocon4Freddie PalmerPercy CarterGeoffroy de Waldner
1951Mystery3Lester PiggottPercy CarterMme Edward Esmond
1952Tulyar3Charlie SmirkeMarcus MarshAga Khan III
1953Argur4Charlie ElliottJ. GlynnMarcel Boussac
1954King of the Tudors4Ken GethinWillie StephensonFrank Dennis
1955Darius4Lester PiggottHarry WraggSir Percy Loraine
1956Tropique4Paul BlancGeoff WatsonGuy de Rothschild
1957Arctic Explorer3Lester PiggottNoel MurlessGiles Loder
1958Ballymoss4Scobie BreasleyVincent O'BrienJohn McShain
1959Saint Crespin3George MooreAlec HeadPrince Aly Khan
1960Javelot4Freddie PalmerPercy CarterGeoffroy de Waldner2:14.80
1961St Paddy4Lester PiggottNoel MurlessSir Victor Sassoon2:06.50
1962Henry the Seventh4Edward HideBill ElseyJim Joel2:07.40
1963Khalkis3Garnie BougourePaddy PrendergastViscount Elveden2:10.60
1964Ragusa4Garnie BougourePaddy PrendergastJim Mullion2:07.40
1965Canisbay4Stan ClaytonCecil Boyd-RochfortQueen Elizabeth II2:07.30
1966Pieces of Eight3Lester PiggottVincent O'BrienCountess de la Valdène2:08.90
1967Busted4Bill RickabyNoel MurlessStanhope Joel2:07.70
1968Royal Palace4Sandy BarclayNoel MurlessJim Joel2:07.50
1969Wolver Hollow5Lester PiggottHenry CecilHope Goddard Iselin2:11.80
1970Connaught5Sandy BarclayNoel MurlessJim Joel2:06.00
1971Mill Reef3Geoff LewisIan BaldingPaul Mellon2:05.40
1972Brigadier Gerard4Joe MercerDick HernJean Hislop2:20.20
1973Scottish Rifle [a]4Ron HutchinsonJohn DunlopSandy Struthers2:12.39
1974Coup de Feu5Pat EdderyDuncan SasseTim Sasse2:08.86
1975Star Appeal5Greville StarkeyTheo GrieperWaldemar Zeitelhack2:06.10
1976Wollow [b]3Gianfranco DettoriHenry CecilCarlo d'Alessio2:05.42
1977Artaius3Lester PiggottVincent O'BrienMrs George Getty II2:05.30
1978Gunner B5Joe MercerHenry CecilPauline Barratt2:05.05
1979Dickens Hill3Tony MurrayMick O'TooleMrs Jean-Pierre Binet2:06.17
1980Ela-Mana-Mou4Willie CarsonDick HernSimon Weinstock2:10.20
1981Master Willie4Philip WaldronHenry CandyRobert Barnett2:07.44
1982Kalaglow4Greville StarkeyGuy HarwoodTony Ward2:08.83
1983Solford3Pat EdderyVincent O'BrienRobert Sangster2:06.36
1984Sadler's Wells3Pat EdderyVincent O'BrienRobert Sangster2:04.53
1985Pebbles4Steve CauthenClive BrittainSheikh Mohammed2:07.33
1986Dancing Brave3Greville StarkeyGuy HarwoodKhalid Abdullah2:06.18
1987Mtoto4Michael RobertsAlec StewartAhmed Al Maktoum2:04.33
1988Mtoto5Michael RobertsAlec StewartAhmed Al Maktoum2:06.14
1989Nashwan3Willie CarsonDick HernHamdan Al Maktoum2:07.38
1990Elmaamul3Willie CarsonDick HernHamdan Al Maktoum2:04.63
1991Environment Friend3George DuffieldJames FanshaweBill Gredley2:07.61
1992Kooyonga4Warren O'ConnorMichael KauntzeMitsuo Haga2:10.83
1993Opera House5Michael KinaneMichael StouteSheikh Mohammed2:06.25
1994Ezzoud5Walter SwinburnMichael StouteMaktoum Al Maktoum2:04.70
1995Halling4Walter SwinburnSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin2:05.32
1996Halling5John ReidSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin2:08.05
1997Pilsudski5Michael KinaneMichael StouteLord Weinstock2:12.51
1998Daylami4Frankie DettoriSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin2:06.82
1999Compton Admiral3Darryll HollandGerard ButlerErik Penser2:06.42
2000Giant's Causeway3George DuffieldAidan O'BrienMagnier / Tabor2:05.32
2001Medicean4Kieren FallonSir Michael StouteCheveley Park Stud2:04.65
2002Hawk Wing3Michael KinaneAidan O'BrienSue Magnier2:13.34
2003Falbrav5Darryll HollandLuca CumaniRencati / Yoshida2:05.59
2004Refuse to Bend4Frankie DettoriSaeed bin SuroorGodolphin2:08.31
2005Oratorio3Kieren FallonAidan O'BrienMagnier / Tabor2:07.00
2006David Junior4Jamie SpencerBrian MeehanRoldvale Ltd2:07.31
2007Notnowcato5Ryan MooreSir Michael StouteA. & D. de Rothschild2:05.85
2008Mount Nelson4Johnny MurtaghAidan O'BrienSmith / Magnier / Tabor2:05.56
2009Sea the Stars3Michael KinaneJohn OxxChristopher Tsui2:03.40
2010Twice Over5Tom QueallyHenry CecilKhalid Abdullah2:04.64
2011So You Think5Seamie HeffernanAidan O'BrienDerrick Smith et al.2:04.77
2012Nathaniel4William BuickJohn GosdenLady Rothschild2:06.94
2013Al Kazeem5James DoyleRoger CharltonJohn Deer2:04.35
2014Mukhadram5Paul HanaganWilliam HaggasHamdan Al Maktoum2:04.47
2015Golden Horn3Frankie DettoriJohn GosdenAnthony Oppenheimer2:05.77
2016Hawkbill3William BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin2:10.71
2017Ulysses4Jim CrowleySir Michael StouteFlaxman Stables2:03.49
2018Roaring Lion3Oisin MurphyJohn GosdenQatar Racing2:04.04
2019Enable5Frankie DettoriJohn GosdenKhalid Abdullah2:04.77
2020Ghaiyyath[c]5William BuickCharlie ApplebyGodolphin2:04.48
2021St Mark's Basilica3Ryan MooreAidan O'BrienSmith / Magnier / Tabor2:10.87
2022Vadeni3Christophe SoumillonJean-Claude RougetAga Khan IV2:05.20
2023Paddington3Ryan MooreAidan O'BrienTabor / Smith / Magnier et al.2:05.16

Coral-Eclipse Previous Result

Check out this result from the Sandown Racecourse:

Favourites have a good record in the Eclipse, winning five of the last ten renewals.

So You Think (2011), Golden Horn (2015) and Enable (2019) all started odds-on favourite.

Al Kazeem (2013) and Roaring Lion (2018) were also heavily-backed market leaders.

Most recent winners have returned in single figures with Mukhadram (14-1) providing the only real surprise in 2014. He had finished an unlucky fourth behind The Fugue in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot but turned that form around at Sandown.

Coral-Eclipse Stats

  • Previous winning form at Group 1 level is often a pre-requisite for the Eclipse.
  • Most winners had an official rating of 119 or higher and arrived at Sandown fit from a recent race.
  • It is extremely difficult to win here after a lengthy absence. Enable overcame at 245-day absence to win in 2019 but was unable to repeat the performance after 273 days in 2020.
  • Winning form at ten furlongs or beyond is also an advantage when assessing Coral Eclipse tips. Top milers to suffer defeat here include The Gurkha who was a beaten odds-on favourite in 2016. Rain-softened ground stretched his stamina and he was beaten by Hawkbill before dropping back to a mile to win the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
  • Enable was only the third mare to win the Eclipse after Pebbles (1985) and Kooyonga (1992).
  • Top class fillies and mares beaten here include Triptych, Indian Skimmer and Ouija Board.
  • Five-year-olds have an excellent Eclipse record but no horse older than five has managed to win since Bendigo in 1886.

Top Trainers and Jockeys

Sir Michael Stoute equalled Alec Taylor Jr’s record of six Eclipse victories when Ulysses won in 2017. His previous winners were Opera House (1993), Ezzoud (1994), Pilsudski (1996), Medicean (2001) and Notnowcato (2007).

Aidan O’Brien has five Eclipse winners to his credit including Giant’s Causeway (2000) and Hawk Wing (2002). His most recent success came with So You Think in 2011.

John Gosden has been the most successful trainer in recent years, scoring with Nathaniel (2012), Golden Horn (2015), Roaring Lion (2018) and Enable (2019).

Lester Piggott won the Eclipse a record seven times, his last coming aboard Artaius in 1977.

Popular Questions

How far is the Coral Eclipse?

The Coral-Eclipse is 1 mile, 1 furlong and 209 yards long.

Betting on the Coral Eclipse 2023

There is always a strong ante-post market on the Eclipse Stakes. It is often the target for some of the highest-rated horses in training.

The market is heavily influenced by events in the Epsom Derby and at Royal Ascot, although you should wait for running plans to be confirmed before placing your Eclipse bets.

The result of the Eclipse will have a big impact on the ante-post betting for the big ten furlong races later in the summer, notably the International Stakes at York and the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. John Gosden trained Roaring Lion to win all three races in 2018.

Summary

The Coral Eclipse is the highlight of the flat racing season at Sandown. It is always a high-quality event.

The roll of honour is littered with many star names of the turf and it is always an exciting betting race. The form usually holds up well and can be followed with confidence for the rest of the season.

Resources