Dubawi's Ghaiyyath Takes the Eclipse

Charlie Appleby had relayed loud and clear that Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was now the horse he had been waiting for and Godolphin's dynamic performer proved the point in style in Sunday's G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. Casual this time getting to the front after the first half a furlong, the 9-4 second favourite was stalked by Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) with Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) taken back early racing four lengths off his tempo. Tackling the headwind up the straight as Japan chased hard, the G1 Coronation Cup hero had to draw on his significant reserves to plough on uphill to the line as the returning even-money favourite Enable stayed on down the outer. Her progress was a touch laboured, as John Gosden had suggested it might be when declaring her “85%” beforehand, and the leader was ultra-game to prevail by 2 1/4 lengths, with Enable denying Japan the runner's-up spot by a head.

Jockey William Buick had every fraction right and he said, “He's got a huge cruising speed and he knows how to use it. It was his first go over a mile and a quarter in a group one and he was in a nice rhythm the whole way. Charlie had him in great shape. We were obviously concerned about Enable coming into the race, but it was her first run of the season and I'm sure she'll improve from the race.”

Re-setting Newmarket's Rowley Mile's mile-and-a-half track record a month previously when leading Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) a merry dance in the Coronation Cup, Ghaiyyath was putting two big efforts back-to-back after his 8 1/2-length success in the Feb. 20 G3 Dubai Millennium at Meydan. That suggested that the 5-year-old had turned a corner from last term, when one of his typically audacious front-running displays tended to be followed by a drop-off the next time. That was the case when his remarkable 14-length win in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden preceded a dive in fortunes in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October, but it is widely-held that he went off too fast in testing ground there.

Having not always been comfortable on ground with some bounce, it holds no fears for the imposing bay these days and he was unhurried by William Buick despite not breaking best. It may have taken him a few strides to get into his customary position, but when he got there he was free to do as he pleased with the only other pace angles Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}) restrained. Frankie was intent on keeping Enable away from the possibility of a prolonged duel, but when the time came to join pursuit she had a touch less than her customary zip. Japan gave way eventually as Ghaiyyath maintained his momentum and it was clear on the rising ground to the line that Juddmonte's mare would not be adding another prestige event to her illustrious tally.

“As a horse, you go with what Ghaiyyath wants to do–he's not a horse who likes to be controlled,” Buick added. “You just sit against him, let him use his huge stride and go when he's ready. He's a joy to ride and a very, very good horse. As a five-year-old he's mature physically and mentally–he's becoming the finished article. I think a mile and a quarter will be his optimum trip, as he's very fast. Sometimes when you ride him over a mile and a half you're always worried the last furlong is going to be a long one, but he keeps going.”

Charlie Appleby, 45 on Sunday, was enjoying the perfect gift and said, “He's a horse we've always held in high regard and we've seen the performances he can put up. Obviously he'd been an emphatic winner in France and in Germany and out in Dubai, but I think the Coronation Cup win gained him a lot of fans and support. We were never concerned about dropping him back to the 10 furlongs today. He's got loads of pace and statistically this track suits front-runners. We had immense respect for Enable, who I felt lost nothing in defeat–it was a great battle up the straight.”

“This year he seems to be taking his races better,” he added. “We toyed with the idea of going for the [G2] Prince of Wales's Stakes after the Coronation Cup, but we thought we'd give ourselves an extra couple of weeks and we know this track can favour a front runner. The [G1] Juddmonte International at York would be up there. He's shown his versatility now, winning over 10 and 12 furlongs. You don't beat Enable having an easy run, so we'll see where we are over the next week and then decide whether we head to York or whether he needs a bit more time. There's plenty of racing coming up over the autumn, so I don't think we need to be making any rash decisions. Our plan was always to work back from another crack at the Arc. If Enable is in it, we'll just have to take her on again.”

John Gosden was thinking about Ascot in three weeks' time and a third King George for the runner-up. “I'm delighted with her,” he said. “She ran a gorgeous race. We know Ghaiyyath and as I warned everybody it is a great front-runners track, Sandown. If he gets free on the front, as he is a fabulous horse, you are never going to get to him. We found that out in the Coronation. She has put in a perfect performance and has come with a lovely run. I'm delighted with the way she came there. Frankie said the last half a furlong she just needed it, so he looked after her. It is the perfect platform we were looking for for the King George. We were very happy.”

“She enjoyed it and her zest and desire is there, but trying to get involved with a front-running horse like him was never going to be her deal. I think I did warn everybody about that left, right and centre. She is an older mare now and it has taken a great deal more to get her to this point, but she has run a beautiful race and I couldn't be more thrilled with her. We knew coming we were 85 per cent and you are not going to beat a front-running horse like that around here. She has run the most perfect race to point towards the King George.”

Ghaiyyath is a son of the dominant G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who has also produced the GI Man o'War S., G3 Kilternan S. and G3 Blue Wind S. winner Zhukova (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and the listed-placed Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who is in turn the dam of the GIII With Anticipation S. runner-up Irish Territory (Ire) (Declaration of War). From the family of the GI Sword Dancer Invitational hero King's Drama (Ire) (King's Theatre {Ire}), Nightime has understandably become something of a legend at the major sales auction houses.

Zhukova was bought by Sheikh Mohammed for 3.7million gns at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, while the following year's auction saw Stroud Coleman Bloodstock pay 700,000gns for the Foal Sale's top-priced full-brother to Ghaiyyath who is now named New Kingdom (Ire). At the Goffs November Foals Sale in November, Nightime's latest son of Dubawi set a new record when again being knocked down to Godolphin for €1.2million.

Sunday, Sandown, Britain
CORAL-ECLIPSE-G1, £250,000, Sandown, 7-5, 4yo/up, 9f 209yT, 2:04.48, gd.
1–GHAIYYATH (IRE), 129, h, 5, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Nightime (Ire) (G1SW-Ire, $299,507), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Caumshinaun (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Ridge Pool (Ire), by Bluebird
(€1,100,000 Wlg '15 GOFNOV). O-Godolphin; B-Springbank Way Stud (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £141,775. Lifetime Record: Hwt. Older Horse-Ger at 11-14, G1SW-Ger, MGSW & G1SP-Fr, GSW-UAE, 11-8-0-2, $762,840. *1/2 to Zhukova (IRE) (Fastnet Rock (AUS)), Hwt. Older Mare-Eur at 9.5-11f, GISW-USA & MGSW-Ire, $499,594; and Sleeping Beauty (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), SP-Ire. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Enable (GB), 126, m, 6, Nathaniel (Ire)–Concentric (GB), by Sadler's Wells. O-Khalid Abdullah; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-John Gosden. £53,750.
3–Japan (GB), 129, c, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Shastye (Ire), by Danehill. (1,300,000gns Ylg '17 TATOCT). O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Masaaki Matsushima; B-Newsells Park Stud (GB); T-Aidan O'Brien. £26,900.
Margins: 2 1/4, HD, 1HF. Odds: 2.25, 1.00, 6.00.
Also Ran: Magic Wand (Ire), Deirdre (Jpn), Regal Reality (GB), Bangkok (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.