The 10-furlong contest forms part of the British Champions Series and is the first significant contest where those from the Classic generation take on their elders.

Heading the entries is Mishriff. The John and Thady Gosden-trained four year old landed last season’s French Derby. He has won both his starts so far in 2021, the Saudi Cup and the Dubai Sheema Classic.

St Mark’s Basilica is one of 13 remaining entries for Aidan O’Brien. The three year old Siyouni colt is a dual Classic winner in France this season. Last weekend, he won the Group One Prix du Jockey-Club at Chantilly.

The only other Irish trainer with a runner engaged is Jim Bolger. MacSwiney, the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas winner is among the 31 remaining horses.

The five-day confirmation stage for the Coral-Eclipse is on Monday 28^th June, when there is also a supplementary entry stage.

THE CORAL-ECLIPSE (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

SANDOWN PARK – Saturday 3^rd July

Addeybb (IRE) 7 9 7 Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum William Haggas

Armory (IRE) 4 9 7 Mrs John Magnier,Mr M.Tabor & Mr D.Smith Aidan O’Brien IRE

Japan (GB) 5 9 7 M Matsushima/D Smith/Mrs Magnier/M Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

Lord North (IRE) 5 9 7 HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing John & Thady Gosden

Mishriff (IRE) 4 9 7 Prince A. A. Faisal John & Thady Gosden

Mogul (GB) 4 9 7 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

My Oberon (IRE) 4 9 7 Sunderland Holding Inc. William Haggas

Palace Pier (GB) 4 9 7 Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum John & Thady Gosden

Regal Reality (GB) 6 9 7 Mr Peter Done Sir Michael Stoute

Sangarius (GB) 5 9 7 Juddmonte Sir Michael Stoute

Love (IRE) 4 9 4 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

Wonderful Tonight (FR) 4 9 4 Mr Christopher Wright David Menuisier

Battleground (USA) 3 8 11 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

Bolshoi Ballet (IRE) 3 8 11 Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg Aidan O’Brien IRE

El Drama (IRE) 3 8 11 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Roger Varian

High Definition (IRE) 3 8 11 D Smith/M Tabor/Mrs J Magnier/Westerberg Aidan O’Brien IRE

Highland Avenue (IRE) 3 8 11 Godolphin Charlie Appleby

John Leeper (IRE)3 8 11 Anamoine Ltd Ed Dunlop

Mac Swiney (IRE) 3 8 11 Mrs J. S. Bolger Jim Bolger IRE

Mohaafeth (IRE) 3 8 11 Shadwell Estate Company Ltd William Haggas

Mostahdaf (IRE) 3 8 11 Shadwell Estate Company Ltd John & Thady Gosden

Naamoos (FR) 3 8 11 H.H. Shaikh Nasser Al Khalifa & F. Nass Mark Johnston

New Mandate (IRE) 3 8 11 Mr Marc Chan Ralph Beckett

One Ruler (IRE) 3 8 11 Godolphin Charlie Appleby

Royal Champion (IRE) 3 8 11 Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum Roger Varian

St Mark’s Basilica (FR) 3 8 11 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

Wembley (IRE) 3 8 11 Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier Aidan O’Brien IRE

Joan of Arc (IRE) 3 8 8 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

Mother Earth (IRE) 3 8 8 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

Santa Barbara (IRE) 3 8 8 Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg Aidan O’Brien IRE

Snowfall (JPN) 3 8 8 Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor Aidan O’Brien IRE

The post 14 Irish-trained horses among 31 left in Coral-Eclipse appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

MacSwiney, who won a Group 2 on soft ground at The Curragh in August displayed his stamina and tenacity in the final British Group 1 of the season to win by three-quarters of a length.

The winner (12/1) was last to challenge under Kevin Manning as he overhauled eventual third Baradar (9/1) and held of the 6/4f One Ruler.

It was a first British Group 1 for Manning since Pléascach took the 2015 Yorkshire Oaks.

The winning rider said of MacSwiney:

“He’s got a great attitude and didn’t fight me through the race, but at the business end he’s there when you want him.”

Named after Terence MacSwiney

The colt is named after the Irish playwright and politician Terence MacSwiney, who died 100 years ago on 25 October 1920, in Brixton prison. The Cork man had been on hunger strike have been placed in Brixton charged with sedition.

“I must have known he was good back in January when I named him Mac Swiney” said winning trainer Jim Bolger. “It wouldn’t have been good for me or anyone around here to name a horse after a Cork man if he wasn’t very good”, he joked.

“He’s one of our outstanding patriots and I’m thrilled for his memory that this fellow was able to go back to England 100 years after his death and win like he did.”

Van Gogh wins French Group 1

Van Gogh produced an impressive burst of speed to win the Group One Criterium International for Aidan O’Brien at Saint-Cloud.

Ridden by French jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, Van Gogh was last of the six runners until entering the home straight. Boudot quickly moved the 2-year-old to the rail on the stand side before he ran on for a comfortable victory.

It was a first European Group 1 win for the colt’s sire, American Pharoah, as Van Gogh won by our lengths from long-time leader Normandy Bridge.

Though it was his seventh career start, it was Van Gogh first race on heavy ground, something he seemed to relish.

Winning jockey, Boudot, said of the winner:

“He is impressive. Aidan told me before the race that he needed cover, for a nice trip and be relaxed. He has a nice turn of foot. He is still green and tricky when he arrived in front, but he won in very good style.”

The post Irish trainers win Group 1 races at Doncaster and Saint-Cloud appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The opening part of Foley’s brace came when Protagonist (1/1f) claimed his second success in six days as the Michael Buckley-owned Jessica Harrington-trained French-bred took the Download the BoyleSports App Handicap.

Foley later teamed up with Charles O’Brien to take the Follow Fairyhouse On Social Media Handicap (Div II) with Rain Or Shine (8/1). The son of Zoffany came from last to first on the outside of the field to deny Pulsating (13/2) by half a length.

Today’s double for Shane Foley means the Kilkenny rider has won 19 races from 18 fixtures since the resumption of the sport earlier this month. He is now 3 wins ahead of Colin Keane in the jockeys’ title race.

Apprentice Gavin Ryan also rode a brace of winners at the Co. Meath track with both Reverberation (11/1) and Baby Power (5/2f) visiting the winners’ enclosure.

The Tipperary jockey and Reverberation won the Follow Fairyhouse On Social Media Handicap (Div I) with the James Lambe-trained five-year-old gelding achieving a four-length victory, despite having his first outing since Dundalk last March.

Ryan rode the favourite, Baby Power (5/2), in the Thanks To All Our Frontline Workers Handicap over 6 furlongs. When Ryan’s mount hit the front, the filly had to respond tenaciously to Powersville, winning by half a length for Garry Caldwell and his owner-breeder father Bernard.

Jim Bolger, who provided Gavin Ryan with his first winner in the form of Locus Standi at Dundalk in March 2017, was among the winners himself this afternoon as Bolger’s son-in-law Kevin Manning steered Slaney East (7/2) to a battling success in the 1m 2f Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, taking a half-length victory.

Another in-form rider, Billy Lee, partnered Paddy Twomey’s Pontchateau (9/1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for three-year-old colts and geldings over 10 furlongs.

Rachael Blackmore, who will ride in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on Saturday, won the first division of the Meath Handicap, as the 3/1f Oromo took the honours for trainer Karl Thornton by a length and a quarter.

Former Galway Plate-winning jockey Kevin Coleman recorded his first winner on native soil as a trainer when Red Vermillon (22/1), under Seán Davis, took the last race of the day, the Meath Handicap (Div II).

The post Foley double makes it 19 winners from 18 meetings appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.