The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 3 quality handicap that takes place at Sandown racecourse each November in Melbourne. The race is held on Sandown Classic day one week after the Melbourne Cup carnival ends on Emirates Stakes day and has prizemoney of $125,000. The 2009 winner was Bashful Girl from Rose Syrah with Down Under Boy third.
The Eclipse Stakes has traditionally been held the Saturday following Gr2 Sandown Classic day and a decision was made to bring the race back one week to make four group races on Sandown's biggest race day of the year.
Over recent years the Eclipse Stakes has been run over distances ranging from 1800m to 2100m due to the race now taking place at Sandown rather than Caulfield. When the race was ran at Caulfield the traditional distance was 2000m, and now it is run at Sandown over the closest available distance on the respective circuits.
Sandown has two tracks, the Hillside circuit which has an 1800m start and the Lakeside circuit which does not. The reason it is sometimes run over 2100 metres is that the meeting can be held on the Lakeside circuit, which does not have an 1800m start.
| Eclipse Stakes info |
| Date: |
Saturday November 13th, 2010 |
| Track: |
Sandown racecourse, Melbourne |
| Distance: |
1800 metres |
| Race Type: |
Quality Handicap |
| Status: |
Group 3 |
| Prizemoney: |
$125,000 |
| 2009 Winner: |
Bashful Girl |
The Eclipse Stakes is the last group race of the spring in Melbourne and being over a middle distance it attracts horses coming back in distance from races such as the Gr2 Sandown Classic (2400m) or Gr3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2500), and also horses looking to step up in distance from races like the Gr3 Sandown Stakes over 1500m.
Most of the good horses that raced during the Caulfield and Melbourne carnivals are out spelling by now and lesser lights that continue racing may consider this race to get a group win under their belt.
The long Sandown straight with its tough uphill run home can test a horse's mettle in the run to the line and suits horses who are solid conveyances at the distance.
Recent winners of the Eclipse Stakes have been Eskimo Dan (2008) and Like It Is (2007).
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Zazzman (2003) won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes & Eclipse Stakes double in 2003 and it is worth noting that top class gallopers Super Impose (1998) and Fields of Omagh (2001) both won this race and then went on to win the WS Cox Plate in later years.
2009 Eclipse Stakes result
1. $18.00 Bashful Girl 53.0 C Newitt
2. $3.20 Rose Syrah 53.0 carr 53.5 D Nikolic
3. $31.00 Down Under Boy 53.0 D Smith
Then followed:
4. $61.00 Elmore 53.0 J Maskiell
5. $12.00 Playwright 54.0 S R King
6. $18.00 Markus Maximus 54.0 L Nolen
7. $7.00 Dane Julia 54.5 D Dunn
8. $31.00 Sea Skye 53.0 M Pumpa
9. $8.00 Offenders 53.0 A Spiteri
10. $11.00 Poised To Win 54.0 Ms C Lindop
11. $7.50 Rhyno Chaser 53.0 D Yendall
12. $6.00 Blutigeroo 58.0 N Hall
13. $21.00 Jungle Ruler 57.0 D Gauci
14. $61.00 Mission Critical 53.5 C Symons
15. $41.00 Game Serena 53.0 P Mertens
FTF. $41.00 Ulysses 55.0 B Melham
Margins: Lg nk, len
Time: 1:49.83
2009 Eclipse Stakes: Bashful Girl came from midfield on the turn to take advantage of a rails opening upon straightening and lengthened stride in solid fashion to hit the lead inside the 100m and hold off for a good win. Rose Syrah came from back in the field to unleash a strong run in the last 50m to grab second place, while Down Under Boy held his ground for third after fighting on well in the straight.
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Eclipse Stakes recent results
| Year |
Winner |
2nd |
3rd |
Time |
|
2009 |
Bashful Girl |
Rose Syrah |
Down Under Boy |
1:49.8 |
|
2008 |
Eskimo Dan |
Instructor |
Sentire |
2.15:5 |
|
2007 |
Like It Is |
Shinzig |
Hidden Strings |
1:50.4 |
|
2006 |
Utility |
Douro Valley |
Flash Trick |
1:52.0 |
|
2005 |
Aqua D'Amore |
Stamen |
Wild Classic |
2:14.5 |
|
2004 |
Requisite |
Fonome |
Caveat Emptor |
1:49.6 |
|
2003 |
Zazzman |
Chairman'S Choice |
You Little Beaut |
2:03.8 |
|
2002 |
Damaschino |
Another Warrior |
British Buska |
2:02.1 |
|
2001 |
Fields Of Omagh |
Thong Classic |
Aquiver |
2:11.1 |
|
2000 |
Tickle My |
The Collector |
Aka Bilk |
2:07.0 |
|
1999 |
Taberann |
Jaimestown |
Sly Sandra |
2:10.2 |
|
1998 |
Prime Address |
Zerpour |
Make A Scene |
2:11.6 |
|
1997 |
Burning Embers |
Miss Tessia |
Maximai |
2:02.7 |
|
1996 |
Gold City |
Hurricane Storm |
Tristolier |
2:10.7 |
|
1995 |
Broann |
Top Rating |
Circles Of Gold |
2:10.9 |
|
1994 |
Innocent King |
Bon Precieux |
Idea |
2:02.2 |
|
1993 |
Palareign |
Corndale |
Southern States |
2:03.7 |
|
1992 |
Fraar |
Excited Angel |
Beret Rouge |
2:07.6 |
|
1991 |
Luisant Bijou |
Gamine |
Pressman'S Choice |
2:01.5 |
|
1990 |
Gamine |
Eastern Classic |
City Gossip |
2:11.7 |
|
1989 |
Eastern Classic |
Akatarawa |
Cool Rocking Daddy |
2:01.1 |
|
1988 |
Super Impose |
Crown Ridge |
Be Reasonable |
2:11.6 |
