The Gurkha can Eclipse Sandown rivals in feature race

David Metcalf | July 1, 2016

The Gurkha primed for Coral-Eclipse battle

Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has an excellent record in the Coral-Eclipse and The Gurkha can further enhance it with victory in this year’s renewal of the Group 1 showpiece at Sandown (15:45).

The Ballydoyle handler has won the 1m 2f contest on five occasions, courtesy of Giant’s Causeway (2000), Oratorio (2005), Hawk Wing (2002), Mount Nelson (2008), and So You Think (2011).

In The Gurkha, O’Brien has a lightly-raced and rapidly improving colt who put in a stunning performance when landing the French 2,000 Guineas at Deauville by 5 1/2 lengths.

After travelling strongly on the heels the leaders under a confident Ryan Moore, the three-year-old was driven to take up the running a furlong from home before stretching effortlessly clear.

Performance which oozed class

The way in which The Gurkha quickly put clear daylight between himself and his rivals could not have been more impressive – this really was a performance which oozed class.

The Gurkha backed that up with a solid second to Galileo Gold in the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot after not getting the clearest of runs, having four lengths to make up with 150 yards to go and finishing well to go down by just 1 1/4 lengths at the line.