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The 2025 Eclipse Stakes

2.62Ombudsman on the machine at the moment.Not saying he will win but there is a massive amount of juice in that price.
 
Gosden seemingly going out of his way to 'manage expectations' re Ombudsman. Sounds like he doesn't expect it to win.
 
OMG - the Del boy is as good as I hoped! This is an exceptional performance! My Cliff horse delivers...:love::love::love:
 
Auguste Rodin 2,000 Guineas catastrophe to Derby glory, ditto City Of Troy, Delacroix Derby debacle to this - those fellas don't know the rules. 😂

Cracking race.
 
Danny said:
Couldn't see that coming but that's a hell of a horse.
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I could. I was gutted that he got knocked so far back in the Derby but to get into that sort of position today and still mow them down - wow!
 
Well done Delacroix backers.

I still wouldn't say he won because he's a 3yo, though. For me it looked an unsatisfactory race and I do think Ombudsman hasn't run to form. Time will tell, I suppose, and I wouldn't be surprised if the sectionals suggest the winner just wasn't slowing down as much as the others.

To many modest types were too close up at the finish for it to be an above average Eclipse.
 
Outsider said:
A cliff horse is one with a row of duck eggs next to its name:cool:
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No mine are those that get spotted on their first start, flagged up as one to follow on here, and you religiously hope and pray he's going to be the horse you in your gut think he is.
 
Desert Orchid said:
Well done Delacroix backers.

I still wouldn't say he won because he's a 3yo, though. For me it looked an unsatisfactory race and I do think Ombudsman hasn't run to form. Time will tell, I suppose, and I wouldn't be surprised if the sectionals suggest the winner just wasn't slowing down as much as the others.

To many modest types were too close up at the finish for it to be an above average Eclipse.
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That Timeform130 from Ascot has a smell off it.
 
I think the Ascot race played up Ombudsman more than he should have been. There there was a suicidal pace which Ombudsman capitalised on. Los Angeles Has been ruled out until the autumn apparently such was the physical impact on him.

In the Derby Del Boy got shuffled back at completely the wrong stage and unusually Ryan was in a very poor position at a crucial time. When he asked him to pick up there coming into the straight, he did rapidly but those in front were not stopping so Ryan sensibly was not hard on him.

Today it looked like the plan was to go to the front. For whatever reason that didn't happen. He was at the rear and was then boxed in by his stablemate. He still managed to pull out and run them down from a very difficult position. You can underate this horse at your peril. This was an exceptional performance today.
 
Delacroix works out:



Via

Hotazhell (OR 117) – 124

Camille Pissarro (115) – 119

Ruling Court (121) – 124



And Ombudsman has run to 123, 5lbs below his OR.



124 is a decent enough figure for a 3yo but it leaves him well short of superstar status.

Of course there's a possibility that Ombudsman's OR is wrong but Gosden was at pains to tell everybody not to expect too much today. The horse actually ran better than I expected given that I expected him to bounce. I just hope this race on top of Ascot doesn't sour him altogether.
 
Fair analysis DO.
Ombudsman was edgy before the race, keen during it and showed some courage to nearly win it despite all going against him.
Delacroix did what Ombudsman did at Ascot, getting repeatedly blocked in before coming wide and doing them all.
Ruling Court and Camille P stayed on admirably to be close behind.
Ballydoyle now have 4 Group 1 winning 3yos; they need Lambourn to win at York to make Irish Champion very interesting as to their pick as headline three year old.
Thoughts for Jessie H having two nearly 3yo's in a highly competitive year.
Superstars do not come around all that often but a rash of 122-125 horses knocking heads makes for serious racing .
Long may it continue.
 
Ian_Davies said:
Auguste Rodin 2,000 Guineas catastrophe to Derby glory, ditto City Of Troy, Delacroix Derby debacle to this - those fellas don't know the rules. 😂

Cracking race.
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A vet could pronounce one of theirs dead and they could still win a Group 1 with it next time out.

I totally get and respect the purist comparison with yesteryear.

But Delacroix will never meet Mill Reef et al so, as a punter, it's not something I dwell on too much.

I agree with Eddie - it's actually a lot more interesting when there isn't a "superstar" beating everything by half the track on the bit at ever longer odds-on.

I had 16/1 Delacroix for The Derby in my "Derbfolio," but that wasn't his day and I think he's a proper decent 3yo (and yes, that's yet another 3yo winner despite two adjustments to the scale against them since Mtoto's day).

And they don't need to finish strung out like washing for it to be decent form in the context of what's around in 2025.
 
My take; the pace was poor for a top race,and turning in a large hanky would have cpvered them.
Wm Buicki s a sound judge of pace normally,but hard to figure why more use wasn't made of the fav.
Reckon Ryan dropped Delacroix out,expecting a stiffer test,and was caught a litttle by surprise, but the horse rescued him..As a spectacle, it was a shambles,imo.
 
Slim said:
That Timeform130 from Ascot has a smell off it.
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Ditto. Maybe the quick turnaround brought him closer to the others but whichever way you look at it a tremendous performance by the winner. His sister may have stayed 14f but he is clearly a 8 to 10f horse. Perfect as a stallion prospect. The juddmonte could well see a different result. Camille just got caught for toe and in the long straight at York could be a cracking bet.
 
Desert Orchid said:
Delacroix works out:



Via

Hotazhell (OR 117) – 124

Camille Pissarro (115) – 119

Ruling Court (121) – 124



And Ombudsman has run to 123, 5lbs below his OR.



124 is a decent enough figure for a 3yo but it leaves him well short of superstar status.

Of course there's a possibility that Ombudsman's OR is wrong but Gosden was at pains to tell everybody not to expect too much today. The horse actually ran better than I expected given that I expected him to bounce. I just hope this race on top of Ascot doesn't sour him altogether.
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Always that risk though why back him up so quick if you've been so patient with horse before. The really quick ground at ascot skewed loads of form. Easier conditions underfoot clearly helped the winner.
 
Coach miguel said:
Ditto. Maybe the quick turnaround brought him closer to the others but whichever way you look at it a tremendous performance by the winner. His sister may have stayed 14f but he is clearly a 8 to 10f horse. Perfect as a stallion prospect. The juddmonte could well see a different result. Camille just got caught for toe and in the long straight at York could be a cracking bet.
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Camille just didn't see out the 10f on a stiff track.
 
Coach miguel said:
Always that risk though why back him up so quick if you've been so patient with horse before.
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Someone said earlier in the week that the two races were always the plan.

It's possible they didn't anticipate the POW being so fiercely run, though.

Before the Ascot race, I think it was, JG said he thought The BG winner was special or words to that effect so maybe that one is one to look forward to.
 
The problem with betting a horse like Ombudsman today is that you were a race too late. You never want to be a race too late with any horse.
 
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