Important lessons from enthralling Coral-Eclipse - plus an Ebor contender for a red-hot trainer

A couple of eyecatching juveniles to note

The form of Royal Ascot's Queen Mary was tested and franked at Sandown on Friday, with fifth-placed Staya landing the Listed Dragon Stakes.

The daughter of Havana Grey was value for more than the winning margin of a head suggests. She missed the start from her inside draw and had to be reined back even more to ensure she could be manoeuvred to the outside, before staying on strongly to the line when in the clear.

There looks to be even more to come, and stepping up in trip for the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot this month could bring about further improvement.

The juvenile novice on the same card looked one to watch as Charlie Appleby and the Gosdens locked horns with some eyecatching debutants.

Appleby came out on top with Pacifica Pier, a Palace Pier half-brother to a Group 3-winning sprinter, but it was the Gosdens' Publish who created the biggest impression.

Publish had nowhere to go for much of the straight but finished strongly when in the clear late on to take second. By Kingman out of a Grade 2-winning mare, he could turn out to be the best of the bunch.
Harry Wilson

No stopping red-hot Balding – and 20-1 for Ebor hope could be value

Usually when a trainer goes through a purple patch, as Andrew Balding did at the start of the turf season, there is an inevitable drop off, but that has not been the case at Kingsclere. If anything, the yard’s form is getting only stronger as we move into the height of summer.

June brought new highs for Balding in terms of number of winners and prize-money in one of the most competitive months in the calendar, and that form has carried into July with a fantastic 11 winners from 30 runners.

That included a Friday treble at Sandown and an across-the-card four-timer on Saturday, which even featured a first win in more than three years for King’s Lynn.

Plage De Havre saunters home in the Old Newton Cup under PJ McDonaldCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Balding recorded a career-best 164 winners in 2024 and looks set to smash that having already recorded 110 this year. One name who looks certain to add to that tally is Plage De Havre, who was arguably the stable's most impressive performer last week when turning the Old Newton Cup at Haydock into a procession.

The handicapper will not show any mercy, but that was only Plage De Havre's third start on turf. There is no reason why he can't continue improving and his trainer now has eyes on the Ebor.

Stepping up to two miles on All-Weather Championships finals day in April did not go to plan (pulled up after setting an unsustainable pace and jockey feeling something was amiss), but if he settles better than he did that day then the mile and six furlongs of the Ebor could be ideal – odds of 20-1 could look pretty big by the day.
Sam Hendry

• Plage De Havre 'as good as he looks' says Andrew Balding as he eyes Ebor after Old Newton Cup romp at Haydock 

Two key takeaways from the Eclipse

Saturday's Coral-Eclipse might have been branded a messy race but the glorious chaos which unfolded at Sandown added to the spectacle, with all six horses in contention heading towards the final furlong.

Delacroix looked to be the one who was beaten down the straight, detached from his five rivals having endured a nightmare passage. A repeat of his Derby disappointment seemed on the cards until Ryan Moore stirred his mount into a thundering finish, and he chinned favourite Ombudsman close to home.

Racegoers and viewers were treated to a classic Eclipse on SaturdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Delacroix's thrilling redemption proved two things. First, Moore is by far and away the best jockey in the business. Second, never write off one they clearly fancy at Ballydoyle.

Last season City Of Troy finished ninth of 11 in the 2,000 Guineas before going on to win the Derby, Eclipse and Juddmonte International. Delacroix did not live up to expectations at Epsom, but Saturday's win could light the blue touch paper for a similarly impressive campaign.

And with Moore on side, you wouldn't bet against it.
Patrick Madden

Read more . . . 

'It was mind-blowing' - stunned O'Brien heaps praise on Moore after Delacroix defeats Ombudsman in epic Eclipse 

Richard Hannon says St Leger hope has 'big chance' in Newmarket trial - plus an update on which Group 1 he favours for Rosallion 

How did he do it? Ryan Moore chucks plan A, B and C out the window to win a mad but memorable Coral-Eclipse 

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