Total Eclipse by St Mark’s has special place in O’Brien’s affections
Sandown defeat of Addeybb and Mishriff ranks highly for Ballydoyle trainer.
No one has won the Coral-Eclipse more than Aidan O’Brien, with seven victories already on his ever-expanding record of achievement. With the likes of Giant’s Causeway, Hawk Wing, So You Think and Paddington on the Ballydoyle winner’s list, it is exalted company. However, O’Brien feels St Mark’s Basilica’s 2021 success over Addeybb – a triple Australian Group One winner and Champion Stakes victor – and Mishriff – a French Derby, Sheema Classic and Juddmonte International scorer – puts him right up there. “I suppose St Mark’s Basilica was very impressive, I thought,” said O’Brien when the question was posed of his best Eclipse winner ahead of City Of Troy’s run at Sandown this weekend.St Mark’s Basilica 𝕕𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤 the Coral-Eclipse! 🙌#ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/d2qHQbDSAg
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 3, 2021
“I remember going there that there were two very impressive older horses in the race (Mishriff and Addeybb) to contend with, both very highly rated, but he treated them with total contempt, really. “I remember thinking that on the day so he would be the one that stands out the most. “Obviously Paddington was very good last year, too, but St Mark’s Basilica was different when he beat those two older horses at that time, I thought.” The strength of O’Brien’s Coolmore bosses was heavily built upon the success of Sadler’s Wells as a stallion, and it is 40 years since the Vincent O’Brien-trained colt won the Eclipse as a three-year-old under Pat Eddery. O’Brien’s memories of the horse are from his childhood, but he is well aware of his place in history.
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