Medicean swoops late in Eclipse

Medicean silenced any doubts about his stamina to land a memorable running of the Stg#325,000 Coral Eurobet Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park this afternoon.

The mile-and-a-quarter contest was run at a tremendous gallop throughout with Godolphin`s pacemaker Broche, running supposedly to aid stablemate Tobougg, setting off in front like a scalded cat.

As Broche capitulated it was the James Fanshawe-trained Grandera who hit the front at the two-furlong pole from Irish challenger Bach but Medicean and Kieren Fallon were starting to close.

And the fast early pace told as Grandera and Bach were able to give no more in the final strides and Medicean flew past on the outside to score by half a length at 7-2 with Grandera (8-1) holding off Bach (20-1) by a neck for the runner-up spot.

Tobougg, the 9-4 favourite was a never-nearer fourth with dual Group One winner Black Minnaloushe similarly never able to land a blow one place further back.

Medicean was providing trainer Sir Michael Stoute with his fourth winner of the race after Opera House (1993), Ezzoud (1994) and Pilsudski (1997) and Fallon with his first Eclipse.

'He`s really come together this year,' said winning jockey Kieran Fallon.

'We always thought he was a good horse and he`s got the temperament to go with it.

'The only worry we`ve ever had was the ground. He`s a horse who needs top of the ground and the rain came but it came too late. I was worried driving down as there was a lot of rain about.

'When he won the Lockinge there was cut in the ground but it wasn`t as good a field as this today.'

A relieved Stoute admitted to being 'very thrilled' by the success.

'He`s a professional athlete,' said the trainer. 'Last year he did give indications he would get a mile and a quarter and we tried it in the Magnet Cup (John Smith`s Cup). It was very inconclusive.

'Having run so well over a mile I left him there. But after Ascot he gave further indications that he would get further.

'He`s definitely progressed from three to four and that was a very good performance. The Eclipse is usually the undoing of my good milers.'

Fanshawe, who landed this race 10 years ago with Environment Friend, was as usual philosophical in his acceptance of the narrow defeat of Grandera.

'He ran really well,' said the Newmarket trainer.

'He`s always looked like a proper horse and he`s got beaten again, unfortunately.

'I think Sir Michael has got his revenge for the defeat of Stagecraft by Environment Friend.'

Frankie Dettori was succinct about the performance of Vodafone Derby third Tobougg, who finished fourth, unable to land a blow.

'It was too far for him,' admitted the Italian.