Ulysses Beats Youngsters in Coral-Eclipse

Ulysses charged to the lead in the final furlong in the July 8 Coral-Eclipse (G1) at Sandown, then was all out to hold off the best-performing of the 3-year-olds, Barney Roy, winning by a nose.

Ulysses, with Jim Crowley up for trainer Sir Michael Stoute, was held up in the trailing pair early in the running, then found a clear path outside the field coming to the finish. Barney Roy, on the inside, kept on stubbornly in his first race beyond a mile and missed only by a bob.

 

The Coral-Eclipse is an early test of the season's top sophomores against their elders, with a significant weight edge to the 3-year-olds.

 

The punters gave the edge to the Investec Derby (G1) runners as Cliffs of Moher, runner-up to the now-retired Wings of Eagles in the Derby, was the favorite at Sandown with Ryan Moore riding for trainer Aidan O'Brien.

 

But Cliffs of Moher was checked hard early in the 2,000-meter race, losing several lengths, then found himself boxed in tightly through the early stretch run. He eventually finished fourth behind longshot Desert Encounter.

 

Eminent, fourth in the Derby, reported home fifth in the Coral-Eclipse. Salouen, 13th at Epsom, finished eighth at Sandown.

 

Ulysses, a 4-year-old son of Galileo, is a Flaxman Stables homebred out of the Kingmambo mare Light Shift, the 2007 Oaks winner. He was third in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot June 21, beaten only 1 1/4 lengths. The Coral-Eclipse was his fourth win and first at the highest level.

 

Barney Roy, a Godolphin runner by Excelebration out of the Galileo mare Alina, won the St James's Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot in his previous start after finishing second to Churchill in the Qipco 2000 Guineas (G1), his only other defeat.

 

Desert Encounter, a 5-year-old Halling gelding, has been a consistent performer for trainer David Simcock, missing a top three finish only once in 12 starts. But he was stepping up significantly in class for the group 1 event.

 

Decorated Knight, who finished second behind Highland Reel in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, was not a factor in the Coral-Eclipse and finished sixth of the nine runners, beaten 5 1/2 lengths.