No Easy Task for Mishriff in Coral-Eclipse

On Coral-Eclipse day last year, Mishriff  produced the first performance of his nascent career that led you to sit up and appreciate that he could be something out of the top drawer.

His victory in the Prix du Jockey Club (G1) came on the same day his illustrious stablemate Enable  failed to reel in Ghaiyyath  at Sandown, and 12 months on it is undoubtedly Mishriff who is the star turn.

His one blip since winning at Chantilly came on what co-trainer John Gosden labelled "diabolical" ground in last fall's QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) with the 4-year-old's two blockbusting victories this year coming in the Saudi Cup (G1) and Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), yielding a mammoth £9 million in prize-money.

Despite those credentials, and the rather more meager £600,000 on offer in the Eclipse, Gosden, who trains the Prince Faisal-owned Mishriff with his son Thady, is not taking his three opponents lightly.

"He's a lovely horse and he fits in with that type we have been fortunate to have (for this race previously)," he said. "We're happy with him going in but I'm perfectly aware of the task in hand."

Mishriff's most recent appearance came in Dubai in March, but despite the extended absence from the course his co-trainer is content with how preparations have gone for the July 3 group 1.

"He's not a horse I've taken away for a racecourse gallop as he has had enough traveling this year already," Gosden said. "We are starting him off here in the Coral-Eclipse, which had been our plan for a long time. I've been very happy with his preparation."

The threat to Gosden winning a fifth Eclipse is made up of one older horse, the redoubtable Addeybb  who came out on top when the pair clashed at Ascot last year, and the 3-year-olds St Mark's Basilica  and El Drama .

Gosden described Addeybb as "a wonderful horse" but believes the ground is more likely to be in the favor of his runner than when it was soft on Champions Day last year.

"I've got tons of respect for Addeybb—I think he is a wonderful horse," Gosden said. "I don't want to be critical but the ground was diabolical (at Ascot) and full marks to the winner as he handles it but our fellow couldn't go in at all.

"Interestingly enough I remember Lester (Piggott) saying to me that a 3-year-old has the advantage in his opinion in the Eclipse with the weights. I know it has changed one pound since those days and it is a 10 pound difference now, but he always felt 3-year-olds had the edge, and I've never been frightened to run 3-year-olds in this race and nor for that matter in the King George (G1)."

Haggas Wary of Addeybb Ring-Rust

The early spring did not prove quite as profitable for William Haggas as it did for his fellow Newmarket trainers John and Thady Gosden, but Addeybb once again shone for the yard on the other side of the world.

Addeybb produced two classy and resolute performances in Australia—finishing second in the Ranvet Stakes (G1) before winning the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) for the second year running.

That latter performance embodied many of the qualities that have taken Addeybb to the top table in a slow-burning career with the 7-year-old gamely repelling all rivals to win under jockey Tom Marquand.

"He's not getting any younger but he's been a fantastic talisman for us," Haggas said. "He's a brave, genuine horse who will give his all but he's not going to be going out there and finding much improvement at his age."

Addeybb's prospects of downing his younger rivals and becoming the oldest winner of the Eclipse in its 135-year history appear to rest on the one thing no-one can control—the weather.

His victory in the Champion Stakes at Ascot last year came on soft ground, while the majority of his best efforts—from winning the 2018 Lincoln from future group 1 winner Lord Glitters  to capturing the 2019 Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes last year—have come when the going was on the easy side.

Haggas feels Addeybb, off since April, may lack some match sharpness and is hoping showers forecast for Sandown arrive.

"He's fine but he might be a little bit rusty, maybe," he said. "I've done as much with him as I want to for this race and the simple case is that his chances will increase if the rain comes.

"He's near enough certain to go out there and run a good race and if there is anything in the others to expose, any chinks in their armor, then he's going to find them and make the most of them."

St Mark's Basilica in Good Form

With the prospects of a small final field for the Eclipse emerging when seven horses were confirmed for the race on Monday, many had been keen to point out that big numbers were not needed to provide a top-quality spectacle.

The race often cited was the 2011 running, when So You Think overhauled the gallant Workforce to take victory with Snow Fairy among those beaten, too.

As well as being a superb watch, it was the last time Aidan O'Brien landed the group 1 albeit not for lack of trying, with some of his finest performers over the past decade contesting the race.

This year, St Mark's Basilica is the chosen one from Ballydoyle but not since Oratorio in 2005 has O'Brien been successful in the Eclipse with a 3-year-old, something Hawk Wing and the brilliant Giant's Causeway also achieved.

Sandown will be the first time St Mark's Basilica has raced in Britain since last year when he landed the Darley Dewhurst Stakes (G1) at Newmarket, with connections instead launching two triumphant raids on France in the Emirates Poule d'Essai des Poulains-French Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and Qatar Prix du Jockey Club-French Derby (G1).

On both occasions, victory for St Mark's Basilica was marked by an impressive turn of foot under jockey Ioritz Mendizabal. This time, Ryan Moore, who has ridden St Mark's Basilica only once when a narrow third in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (G1) at the Curragh, will be the rider tasked with best using that potent asset.

O'Brien said: "We've been delighted with him in his two runs so far this year and this race slotted in nicely for him. We're happy that he seems to be in good form.

"He looks a very straightforward and versatile horse. He's run on all types of ground, and hopefully, it'll be nice ground for him on Saturday."