Britain: Constitution River impresses O'Brien with Eclipse victory
Constitution River made a seamless transition from racing against 3-year-olds to beating older horses with a three-length win in Saturday’s Group 1 Eclipse Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Sandown Park outside of London.
The win was expected. Constitution River paid only $3.30 in American pools as the favorite in a field of seven. The manner of the win, pulling away in the final furlong, left trainer Aidan O’Brien impressed.
“We always thought the world of him,” O’Brien told the press. “Everything he has done has been so special all the way. We felt we hadn’t seen the bottom of him.
“He is improving, classy and loves racing. We are delighted. He is a proper horse.”
Constitution River, ridden by Ryan Moore, was fifth on the backstretch, tracking stablemate and pacesetter Flushing Meadows. Constitution River briefly raced in traffic with three furlongs remaining at the start of the long stretch, but had ample racing room two furlongs from the finish when he took the lead from 4-1 Gethin.
Constitution River did not face a threat in the final furlong. A Boy Named Susie (14-1) closed from the back of the field to finish second, a neck in front of the O’Brien-trained Hawk Mountain. Donnacha O’Brien, Aidan’s son, trains A Boy Named Susie. Gethin faded to finish fifth.
Constitution River gave Aidan O’Brien his fourth consecutive win in the Eclipse Stakes, and a record 10th overall. All 10 of the winners have been owned by the Coolmore syndicate, who co-own Constitution River with Georg Von Opel.
The $1.32 million Eclipse Stakes was Constitution River’s fifth consecutive win. He won the Group 1 French Derby at 1 5/16 miles at Chantilly Racecourse on May 31.
Constitution River, who is by Wootton Bassett, has won 5 of 6 starts, with the only loss a second by a short head in a maiden race at Newmarket Racecourse in Britain last July.
After the Eclipse Stakes, O’Brien mentioned the Group 1 International Stakes at 1 5/16 miles at York Racecourse on Aug. 19 as a possible target for Constitution River.
The same race is goal for Ombudsman, the winner of two Group 1 races this year – the Dubai Turf in the United Arab Emirates in March, and the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 17 – who was the future-book favorite for the Eclipse Stakes until last week when he was withdrawn from consideration in favor of the race at York.
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