One of the four Group race features running at Sandown Racecourse to see out the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival this Saturday is the 2011 Eclipse Stakes which has drawn a final field of 11 gallopers.
Due to jump at 4:50pm (AEDT) as Sandown Race 8, the $125,000 Group 3 Betfair Eclipse Stakes (1800m) is the chosen race on the program for Graeme Boyd’s New Zealand galloper Ginga Dude after they were also nominated for the feature showdown on the card, the $350,000 Group 2 Zipping Classic(2400m).
Craig Williams has the 2011 Eclipse Stakes ride aboard Extra Zero
Ginga Dude was one of five horses that did not accept for the 2011 Zipping Classic leaving race favourite Americain to face just four rivals.
Last seen finishing sixth in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day, eight-year-old Ginga Dude steps back to 1800 metres on Saturday, a distance they have had just one of their previous 47 career starts over when fourth to Heart Of Dreams in the Group 2 St George Stakes at Caulfield back in February.
Drawn in barrier 10 of 11, Ginga Dude is also the 58kg topweight of the Eclipse Stakes acceptors.
Following Ginga Dude in the Eclipse Stakes field and weights are then David Hayes’ Danzero five-year-old Extra Zero and the Peter Moody-trained Tobougg six-year-old Rothera, formerly prepared in Queensland by Ben Currie, both on 56kg.
Extra Zero has been in top form of late, running second to Foreteller in the Group 3 David Jones Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on October 15 before their solid last-start second to Lamasery in the Listed Johnnie Waller Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
While Lamasery heads into the Zipping Classic on Saturday, Extra Zero will stick to the 1800 metres again and is due to jump from barrier four with Craig Williams aboard.
Other notable 2011 Eclipse Stakes hopefuls include the Judy Mawer-trained Lord Pyrus coming off a second to Pinnacles at Sale over the mile, the Peter Snowden-trained Commands four-year-old Erewhon and Michael Moroney’s Redoute’s Choice mare Platinum Passion.
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2011 Eclipse Stakes Field, Barriers & Weights
Sandown Race 8 – 12/11/2011
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0798X61356 | GINGA DUDE (NZ) | Graeme Boyd | Michael Walker | 10 | 58kg | 107 |
| 2 | 208X721022 | EXTRA ZERO | David Hayes | Craig Williams | 4 | 56kg | 101 |
| 3 | 0X891X7990 | ROTHERA | Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen | 8 | 56kg | 101 |
| 4 | 22150X0902 | LORD PYRUS (NZ) | Judy Mawer | Danny Nikolic | 9 | 54.5kg | 98 |
| 5 | 24452X0480 | MAJESTIC MUSIC | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | Craig Newitt | 2 | 54kg | 101 |
| 6 | 341121X247 | EREWHON | Peter Snowden | - | 6 | 53.5kg | 95 |
| 7 | 2392X50147 | PLATINUM PASSION | Michael Moroney | - | 3 | 53kg | 97 |
| 8 | 63370X3862 | BELGIETTO | Peter Gelagotis | Dwayne Dunn | 7 | 53kg | 88 |
| 9 | 34113X5 | FOLDING GEAR (NZ) | Lee & Shannon Hope | - | 5 | 53kg | 88 |
| 10 | 0522960799 | RICEMAN | Dean Saxon | Peter Mertens | 11 | 53kg | 80 |
| 11 | 1631X58103 | ULUNDI | Pat Carey | Chris Symons | 1 | 53kg | 75 |
