Total Eclipse?

Sandown's G1 Coral-Eclipse is tagged the “first clash of the generations” and the betting seems to suggest it will be the 3-year-olds who prevail in Saturday's renewal. Heading the quintet from that age group is 'TDN Rising Star' Cliffs of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is the selected of several Ballydoyle possibles and who bids to emulate the stable's former luminary Hawk Wing in going one better here than in the G1 Epsom Derby. Caught close home by stablemate Wings of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}) in the June 3 blue riband, the May 12 Listed Dee S. winner has been the subject of positive vibes from Rosegreen. “We've been very happy with him since Epsom,” commented Aidan O'Brien, who has five wins to his name already. “It was a mile and a quarter when he won at Chester and then we went to the mile and a half at Epsom. Maybe the last 50 yards caught him between fitness and maybe getting the trip. We're looking forward to seeing him run over a mile and a quarter.”

One of Ballydoyle's finest, Giant's Causeway, was the last colt to win this on the back of success in the G1 St James's Palace S. at Royal Ascot and Richard Hannon is happy that this year's hero of that mile feature Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}) is ready for the step up in trip. Runner-up to Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket May 6, he was firing on all cylinders as that rival backtracked at the Royal meeting June 20 and is poised to provide Godolphin with a sixth edition and the Maktoum family with a 14th. “He's been in great form since Ascot. He came out of the race very well and very fresh,” his trainer said. “He did a piece of work on Tuesday and Sean [Levey] said he felt as good as he's ever felt. He's relaxed and we're very pleased with him. A mile and a quarter looks to be well within his compass, but you don't know that until you've been there. You're also taking on older horses and the mile and a quarter round Sandown is not an easy mile and a quarter. He's going to have to get it well. He has always run to the line in his races which makes you think he would get the trip, and he gets a 10-pound pull off the older horses. It's a very difficult task, but we've been very pleased with him, we think he's a very good horse and hopefully he'll show that on Saturday.”

Completing a high-class trio of sophomores is Sir Peter Vela's Eminent (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who has missed the mark in two tries at the Classics but who may be racing over an ideal distance now. Sixth in the 2000 Guineas and fourth in the Derby, his trainer Martyn Meade has been in confident mood in the lead-up to this showdown. “Certainly I think Sandown will suit him very well. He's only run at Newmarket and Epsom and I think Sandown and a stiff mile and a quarter will help him,” he commented. “We think this is the right race for our horse. You can analyse it until you are blue in the face about the form and the going. It's a test, but we had to do what we have done with him. We had to run in the Guineas, even though it didn't prove a great success and we really had to run in the Derby where we were a bit unlucky. It sounds a terrible sob story, but this has to be the time for him. He has had that experience now. I was very happy with how he came out of Epsom. The Derby can be very hard on horses and can sometimes set them back, but he's raring to go.”

Despite giving away 10 pounds to the 3-year-olds, the older horses have held sway recently with 13 of the last 20 renewals going their way. Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) were separated by a short head when second and third respectively behind Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot June 21 and the former already has a Group 1 win on his resume having plundered The Curragh's Tattersalls Gold Cup May 28. “Every time Decorated Knight has run, he has produced a better performance. It was no disgrace to be beaten by Highland Reel,” trainer Roger Charlton said. “He's a tough, sound, genuine racehorse suited by fast ground and a mile and a quarter. We've no need to look beyond that distance for him. He has come out of his run at Royal Ascot in very good shape, especially considering how hot it was. He got very sweaty that day, but that's just him and it does not affect his performance.”