The 2017 Eclipse Stakes is a Group 3 race held at Sandown Racecourse every November in Victoria. It forms part of the back end of the Melbourne spring racing carnival and provides one last chance for many horses, trainers and connections.
The race is contested over a trip of 1800m and there is $150,000 in prize money on offer for winning connections.
The race is run under quality handicap conditions and now takes its place on Sandown’s biggest race card.
The Eclipse Stakes used to be run the week after Zipping Classic Day but in 2011 it was moved forward to create a card with four group races. The schedule now boasts the Group 1 Zipping Classic, Group 2 Sandown Guineas, Group 3 Sandown Stakes, Group 3 Summoned Stakes, Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes and three listed events.
This race has changed forms in more than just dates over the years as it used to be run at Caulfield Racecourse.
With the shift in venue came a shift in distance too and over the years it’s been anything from the 1800m it is now up to 2100m.
Sandown is known for its tough straight which is uphill and means horses need to be able to run out a strong 1800m to be any chance.
Being at the very end of the carnival horses can come from any number of lead up races and there’s often a number dropping in both class and distance.
It also means this will be the final run of the prep for most runners so there’s no doubt they’ll be presented in the best possible conditions.
It’s been a race that has produced some future champions though and it does take a decent horse to win it.
Super Impose came through here way back in 1988 and Fields Of Omagh got up in 2001.
More recently Like It Is won in 2007, Viking Hero in 2010 and Rothera at big odds in 2011.
2017 Eclipse Stakes Field
The Eclipse Stakes field usually attracts a fairly decent range of stayers and milers. While a few horses may step up to the 1800m, the nature of the Sandown track means that the Eclipse Stakes field is usually filled out with horses stepping down in distance.
The 2017 Eclipse Stakes field will be published here.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24x42x32x8 | KIDMENEVER (IRE) | Charlie Appleby | Kerrin McEvoy | 8 | 59kg | 100 |
| 2 | 00x71120x8 | OBSERVATIONAL (GB) | John Sadler | Thomas Sadler | 2 | 59kg | 100 |
| 3 | 4111151514 | BALF’S CHOICE | Ryan Balfour | Damien Oliver | 13 | 57.5kg | 97 |
| 4 | 33x0x03800 | FOUNDATION (IRE) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Michael Walker | 12 | 57.5kg | 97 |
| 5 | 167×162255 | NOZOMI | Anthony Freedman | Mark Zahra | 14 | 56kg | 94 |
| 6 | 4197×88732 | RAW IMPULSE (GB) | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | 1 | 56kg | 94 |
| 7 | 243×643211 | DODGING BULLETS | Symon Wilde | Regan Bayliss | 10 | 55.5kg | 93 |
| 8 | 4053443393 | JACQUINOT BAY | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Cory Parish | 9 | 55kg | 92 |
| 9 | 4067×70150 | PURE PRIDE (NZ) | Murray Johnson | Stephen Baster | 11 | 55kg | 96 |
| 10 | 03x512x732 | PAYROLL | Richard Laming | Damien Oliver | 7 | 54.5kg | 95 |
| 11 | 21216×3016 | VON TUNZELMAN (NZ) | Roger James | Michael Dee | 3 | 54kg | 89 |
| 12 | 6079357272 | LORD DURANTE | Simone Ferchie | Stan Tsaikos | 5 | 54kg | 86 |
| 13 | 35x08000x1 | RAGHU (NZ) | Jason Warren | Ben Thompson (a) | 6 | 54kg | 86 |
| 14 | 9x80x47145 | KHARTOUM | Pat Carey | – | 4 | 54kg | 61 |
2017 Eclipse Stakes Nominations
The Eclipse Stakes nominations usually feature a fairly diverse range of horses of varying talents and from a variety of preparations. The majority of those gallopers which enter the Eclipse Stakes nominations are coming off the back of a fairly extensive spring carnival campaign and have well established form.
The 2017 Eclipse Stakes nominations will be published below.
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24x42x32x8 | KIDMENEVER (IRE) | H | 5 | Charlie Appleby | 1 | 59kg | 100 |
| 2 | 00x71120x8 | OBSERVATIONAL (GB) | G | 7 | John Sadler | 2 | 59kg | 100 |
| 3 | 4111151514 | BALF’S CHOICE | G | 5 | Ryan Balfour | 3 | 57.5kg | 97 |
| 4 | 33x0x03800 | FOUNDATION (IRE) | G | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 4 | 57.5kg | 97 |
| 5 | 4067×70150 | PURE PRIDE (NZ) | M | 5 | Murray Johnson | 5 | 55kg | 96 |
| 6 | 03x512x732 | PAYROLL | M | 5 | Richard Laming | 6 | 54.5kg | 95 |
| 7 | 167×162255 | NOZOMI | G | 6 | Anthony Freedman | 7 | 56kg | 94 |
| 8 | 4197×88732 | RAW IMPULSE (GB) | H | 6 | Darren Weir | 8 | 56kg | 94 |
| 9 | 243×643211 | DODGING BULLETS | G | 6 | Symon Wilde | 9 | 55.5kg | 93 |
| 10 | 4053443393 | JACQUINOT BAY | G | 10 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 10 | 55kg | 92 |
| 11 | 21216×3016 | VON TUNZELMAN (NZ) | G | 5 | Roger James | 11 | 54kg | 89 |
| 12 | 35x08000x1 | RAGHU (NZ) | H | 5 | Jason Warren | 12 | 54kg | 86 |
| 13 | 6079357272 | LORD DURANTE | G | 9 | Simone Ferchie | 13 | 54kg | 86 |
| 14 | 054335×000 | UN DE SCEAUX | G | 5 | Todd Balfour | 14 | 54kg | 73 |
| 15 | 9x80x47145 | KHARTOUM | G | 4 | Pat Carey | 15 | 54kg | 61 |
Eclipse Stakes Results
Eclipse Stakes winners and place getters since 2000 with winning times are displayed below.
| Year | Results | Winning Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 Payroll | 2 Kidmenever | 3 Jacquinot Bay | 1:51.4 |
| 2016 | 1 Turnitaround | 2 High Church | 3 Lidari | 1:51.2 |
| 2015 | 1 Casino Dancer | 2 Puccini | 3 Worthy Cause | 1:48.0 |
| 2014 | 1 Zabisco | 2 Pheidon | 3 Extra Zero | 1:49.7 |
| 2013 | 1 Mouro | 2 Rain Drum | 3 Bel Thor | 1:50.3 |
| 2012 | 1 Eclair Surprise | 2 Tai Tai Tess | 3 Shewan | 1:49.6 |
| 2011 | 1 Rothera | 2 Folding Gear | 3 Ulundi | 1:52.1 |
| 2010 | 1 Viking Hero | 2 Davcon | 3 Niblick | 1:55.2 |
| 2009 | 1 Bashful Girl | 2 Rose Syrah | 3 Down Under Boy | 1:49.8 |
| 2008 | 1 Eskimo Dan | 2 Instructor | 3 Sentire | 2:15.5 |
| 2007 | 1 Like It Is | 2 Shinzig | 3 Hidden Strings | 1:50.4 |
| 2006 | 1 Utility | 2 Douro Valley | 3 Flash Trick | 1:52.0 |
| 2005 | 1 Aqua D’Amore | 2 Stamen | 3 Wild Classic | 2:14.5 |
| 2004 | 1 Requisite | 2 Fonome | 3 Caveat Emptor | 1:49.6 |
| 2003 | 1 Zazzman | 2 Chairman’s Choice | 3 You Little Beaut | 2:03.8 |
| 2002 | 1 Damaschino | 2 Another Warrior | 3 British Buska | 2:02.1 |
| 2001 | 1 Fields Of Omagh | 2 Thong Classic | 3 Aquiver | 2:11.1 |
| 2000 | 1 Tickle My | 2 The Collector | 3 Aka Bilk | 2:07.0 |
