Giant's Causeway, Sea The Stars and Golden Horn: three awesome Eclipse winners

The Coral-Eclipse (3.35) is three days away and this year's running has the makings of being a real summer highlight, with Classic-winning three-year-olds Vadeni and Native Trail set for their first test against the older generation including Bay Bridge, Real World and Mishriff. Here, we look at three memorable editions of the Eclipse Stakes this century . . .

Giant's Causeway (2000)

The background: The brilliant Dubai Millennium was not among the eight runners but this was still a thrilling clash of the generations.

Sakhee, who had won Sandown's Classic Trial and the Dante before going down narrowly to Sinndar in the Derby, was sent off the 7-4 favourite and was joined in the line-up by fellow three-year-old Giant's Causeway.

Giant's Causeway had finished second in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket and in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh before battling to a head victory in the St James's Palace Stakes, but this was his first start over ten furlongs.

Four-year-old Kalanisi, winner of the Queen Anne, and five-year-old Shiva, a Group 1 winner, added depth to the field.

George Duffield wins the 2000 Coral-Eclipse on Giant's CausewayCredit: Gerry Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

What happened: It was a messy race as intended pacemaker Sun Charm missed the break and only took up his expected duty two furlongs in, while Shiva suffered traffic problems.

Giant's Causeway, sent off at 8-1 on his first attempt over the trip, had the ideal position and set about his battle with Sakhee two furlongs from home. Giant's Causeway saw him off, but with Shiva struggling to get a clear run Kalanisi emerged the big danger.

He swooped down the outside under Pat Eddery to take a narrow lead in the final furlong, but Giant's Causeway gamely got back up to win a thriller by a head.

Sea The Stars (2009)

The background: Sea The Stars was fast entering the all-time great discussion after winning his last four starts including the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby.

Dropping back to ten furlongs, he had nine rivals in opposition at Sandown. Rip Van Winkle, fourth behind Sea The Stars at Epsom and Newmarket, was the best of the rest of the three-year-olds, while the 2008 St Leger and Breeders' Cup Turf winner Conduit was the best of the older brigade.

What happened: A race run at an end-to-end gallop, largely thanks to a pacemaker, ensured the cream rose to the top.

Sea The Stars, the 4-7 favourite, was held up in midfield by Mick Kinane and edged off the rail for a clear run in the straight. He picked up well to lead at the two-furlong pole with Rip Van Winkle and Conduit giving chase.

The brilliant Sea The Stars after winning the Coral-Eclipse in 2009Credit: Edward Whitaker

Conduit cracked entering the final furlong but Rip Van Winkle did not, forcing Sea The Stars to find more. He duly did and won by a length, with Conduit a further four and a half lengths back in third and five more back to fourth.

It was a performance that earned Sea The Stars a Racing Post Rating of 135 (Rip Van Winkle 132) and one he only topped in his glorious three-year-old campaign in the Irish Champion Stakes.

Golden Horn (2015)

The background: Frankie Dettori's career had been revitalised since joining up with John Gosden and no horse had cemented his upturn in fortunes more than Golden Horn, a super winner of the Dante and Derby.

His participation in the Eclipse meant a select field of five went to post and he was the sole member of the Classic generation, but The Grey Gatsby was a notable test after going so close in the Prince of Wales's Stakes and had won the Dante, Prix du Jockey Club and Irish Champion Stakes a year before.

Golden Horn proved too good for The Grey Gatsby in the 2015 EclipseCredit: Edward Whitaker

What happened: Dettori adopted different tactics and made all on Golden Horn, delivering a top-class performance in the process.

Golden Horn did not get a soft lead, with Jamie Spencer sticking close to his outside on The Grey Gatsby. But when push came to shove, Golden Horn found plenty for pressure and really poured it on in the closing stages to win by three and a half lengths.

It was a performance that earned him a RPR of 132, the only horse to break the 130 barrier in the race since the Sea The Stars-Rip Van Winkle battle, and despite subsequently winning the Irish Champion Stakes and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, it was not a figure he bettered before retirement. This was Golden Horn at his peak.

Read more on the Coral-Eclipse:

Who wins the 2022 Coral-Eclipse? Assessing the key contenders for a Sandown stunner

'It's time for him to show us what he can do' – Vadeni primed for Eclipse bid

Vadeni joins Native Trail and Mishriff in star-studded Coral-Eclipse line-up

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.