Ulysses holds on from Barney Roy in thriller as Stoute equals record

It will inevitably remain a source of considerable frustration to Sir Michael Stoute and the Niarchos family that the one blip in Ulysses' career came in the race that matters most, but Group 1 success at last in an epic Coral-Eclipse will no doubt go a long way towards making up for it.

As an unexposed son of Galileo and Oaks winner Light Shift, Ulysses was a popular choice in last year's Derby despite stepping straight out of maiden company but, as Stoute recalled, "he had no chance after being knocked over twice, so there was mitigation".

Thriller: Ulysses (noseband) just edges out Barney Roy in a titanic tussle in the Coral-EclipseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Stoute never lost confidence in him and after two Group 3 wins and a Group 1 third to Highland Reel in last month's Prince of Wales's Stakes, Ulysses travelled into the Eclipse like a dream on the wide outside and then showed plenty of guts to hold St James's Palace Stakes winner Barney Roy in a thrilling duel that took the pair three and a half lengths clear in the final furlong.

Stoute, for whom this was a record-equalling sixth win in the race, watched the contest from a poor angle – not that anyone could have been certain of the result wherever they stood – and admitted that the delay while the judge agonised over the photo-finish was "nerve-racking".

Sir Michael Stoute after his record-equalling sixth win in the EclipseCredit: Edward Whitaker

The relief when Ulysses was announced the winner was palpable.

"That was great," he said. "It was a wonderful horserace. From the furlong marker I always thought he was holding him but my angle was bad, so I didn't know, and so that was a relief. I'm delighted for the Niarchos family as they are great supporters."

Stoute, whose first win in the race came with Opera House in 1993, added: "He's an admirable horse. He's very consistent and has only ever had one blip in his life. He's very game, and they've come a long way clear."

Ulysses is around a 6-1 shot for next month's Juddmonte International Stakes, but Stoute is not committing him yet and a return to a longer trip is on the cards at some stage.

He said: "Don't rule out going back to a mile and a half. He ran a big race at Santa Anita last year [fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf] and he's not as keen now. He settles better, and he'll get a mile and a half.

Jim Crowley kisses the trophy after his first Eclipse successCredit: Mark Cranham

"Kevin Bradshaw rides him every day and has done a wonderful job, and Radka Hovadova looks after him brilliantly. It's great teamwork, and Jim Crowley has given him a peach of a ride."

While a great result for Stoute, the trainer was given a £1,000 fine from the stewards due to Ulysses entering the parade ring after the signal to mount had been given.

The Niarchos family have been associated with many great horses over the years, including Nureyev, whose controversial disqualification from the 1980 2,000 Guineas had shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos vowing he would never race again in Britain.

Thankfully he relented, and while the likes of Hector Protector, Miesque and Six Perfections were trained in France, and Law Society in Ireland, the colours have remained a fixture in Britain for decades.

Maria Niarchos, resplendent in a dazzling gold suit and accompanied by her niece Electra, was thrilled and said: "It's wonderful. We've always believed in the horse and we are so glad that finally Light Shift's memory is going to live on."

Coral-Eclipse result