Godolphin’s Farhh is the new favourite with William Hill for Saturday’s Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. The lightly-raced colt had been second favourite after finishing third to So You Think in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out, but that rival has been withdrawn due to injury. The Eclipse was to have been his last race before he heads back to Australia to start his stallion career.

Under a confident ride from Joseph O’Brien, the six-year-old son of High Chaparral shook off the challenge of Her Majesty’s Carlton House at the Royal meeting. Last year, So You Think defeated the 2010 Derby winner Workforce in a thrilling finish before going on to take the Irish Champion Stakes. O’Brien then sent him to Paris for the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe but he could do no better than fourth behind Danedream. He has now been retired to stud and will go to Coolmore Australia. O’Brien now has no representative in this year’s Eclipse.

Best supported in the early betting on the race has been Godolphin’s Farhh, supplemented for the race following an unlucky third behind So You Think at Ascot. Saeed bin Suroor’s colt moved up from handicap company for that race and could have finished a lot closer but for a poor start and having been checked in his run. Godolphin will also be represented by Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso and City Style. Monterosso looked a much-improved performer when galloping clear at Meydan in March and would pose a threat if anywhere near his best.

John Gosden’s Nathaniel won a sub-standard King George last season and finished behind So You Think in the Champion Stakes at Ascot. He will be making his seasonal bow and is aiming to continue the stables excellent recent form. Sir Henry Cecil’s multiple Group One winner Twice Over is also an intended runner along with Andrew Balding’s Bonfire, a big disappointment in the Epsom Derby. He had previously looked a useful colt in the making when winning York’s Dante Stakes and it will be interesting to see how this generation of three-year-olds compare to the older generation. Brian Meehan’s Cogito is also trying to bounce back from a disappointing run last time. Roger Charlton’s globetrotter Cityscape and Marco Botti’s Crackerjack King are interesting contenders. Roger Varian’s Sri Putra finished second to Twice Over in 2010 and third behind So You Think last year in this event so he could attract some each-way interest.

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written by Harvey \\ tags: Aidan O'Brien, Bonfire, Eclipse, Farhh, horse racing, Nathaniel, Royal Ascot, Sandown, So You Think, Twice Over