Channon's eyeing the Eclipse for Aramram

13 April 2012

Aramram, who finished third in last week's St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, may be supplemented at a cost of £20,000 by owner Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum for the Coral Eurobet Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park on 6 July.

Trainer Mick Channon, who could also be represented in the prestigious ten-furlong contest by Golden Silca and Imperial Dancer, today revealed: "We haven't yet decided whether Aramram will be supplemented - we'll make the decision a little bit nearer the date, probably on Friday, and I'll be talking to the owner later this week.

"The horse seems in good heart and he's come out of his last race all right - it's just whether Sandown will come a bit quick.

"Golden Silca and Imperial Dancer are also both possibles. I don't know what the race looks like at the moment and we'll see. Imperial Dancer would have to have good ground at least to run."

Aramram did not race as a twoyearold but is having an excellent threeyearold season. After breaking his maiden tag in the Listed Stanley Racing Thirsk Classic Trial in April, the Danzig colt was sixth to Rock Of Gibraltar in the Newmarket classic, the Sagitta 2000 Guineas, the following month.

He then found that same rival, who has now won five Group Ones in succession, too good in the St James's Palace Stakes over a mile.

Despite these fine performances, the West Ilsley-based trainer believes there is better to come from his charge. He continued: "We couldn't race him as a two-year-old as we didn't have him until July and then he had a little setback and niggles.

"He's in great nick now physically but there's a lot of improvement in him mentally. Another great thing is that the ground won't matter to him."

Imperial Dancer won the Listed Festival Stakes at Goodwood earlier in the season and Golden Silca was sixth to Grandera in the Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot last week.

The sponsor has opened betting on the race, with Vodafone Derby second, Hawk Wing, installed as the evens favourite followed by the Godolphinowned Noverre at 4-1.

No Excuse Needed is 6-1 to emulate his former stable companion Medicean by winning both the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Coral Eurobet Eclipse at Sandown, with the David Elsworth-trained Indian Creek an 8-1 chance.

Simon Clare, the Coral spokesman, said: "Hawk Wing has already finished second in two classics this season and will be well backed to make it third time lucky. The Eclipse is the first clash of the generations and Hawk Wing will be tested to the full by the likes of Noverre and No Excuse Needed."

This is the 26th year that Coral has sponsored the Eclipse, making it one of the longest standing sponsorships in British racing history.

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Channon's eyeing the Eclipse for Aramram

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