Ladies Day Sandown Summer Festival 2021
Within the six-race card on Ladies Day the Esher Stakes is one of the featured races that was worth noting.
Esher Stakes Sandown Summer Festival 2021
Registered as the Esher Stakes it is also known as the Marathon. It is a listed Class One race that goes the distance bearing in mind the length that is designated. It speaks for itself, as the race is run over two miles and 50 yards (3,264 metres). The Esher Stakes is open to horses of 4 years and older and in 2021 the winner took home a prize of almost £30,000.
Looking into the history of the Esher Stakes, the first race was held in 2003. That day the oldest horse to ever win the race was the Grand Father of the Esher Stakes, Persian Punch who was 10 years old and trained by David Elsworth.
The following year Silver Gilt ran home ridden by Frankie Dettori. That was the first of his record breaking four wins as a jockey having won the race on Cavalryman in 2012, Sandro Botticelli in 2016 and Falcon Eight in 2019. Not only did Frankie Dettori start to create records that day but so did trainer John Gosden. He currently holds the record number of wins as a trainer in the Esher Stakes, when his second win came with King of Wands in 2010 and Caucus in 2013, that was the fastest ever finish of the race with a time of 3:29.38. In more recent times the only horse to win the race twice came in 2017 and 2018. Nearly Caught was mounted by James Doyle and trained by Hugh Morrison.
The 2021 Esher Stakes saw a rather thin field as only four horses started yet they all had qualities to make for an enthralling ride. Frankie Dettori seeking his fifth Esher Stakes win was riding the favourite Mildenberger but the early running was made by Withold. Entering the final lap Grand Visir took the lead. Frankie Dettori was still in contention on Mildenberger but it was outsider Red Verdon who had the legs up the hill to the finish line ending one length and a half clear of Gran Visir. A patient jockey in Ryan Moore winning his third Esher Stakes timed the run perfectly, for a horse that had not won in twelve races. Trainer Ed Dunlop was thrilled and commented how he was astounded the punters had not backed his horse as it came home as an 8#1 outsider.
Eclipse Stakes Day Sandown Summer Festival 2021
Featuring the main event of the weekend the Eclipse Stakes, it was another day to remember at Sandown.
The Eclipse Stakes Sandown Summer Festival 2021
One of the most sought-after prizes of the year the Eclipse Stakes, rewards the best in the business with a potentially massive payday. Approximately £600,000 is up for grabs in this prestigious Group A race that is run over one mile and one furlong and 209 yards (2,002 metres), The thoroughbred fillies and mares are given a 3lb allowance to race against their male counterparts from three years and upwards.
The Eclipse Stakes was first run in 1886 and it was the richest horse race of its time. Named after a horse that was unbeaten over 18 races and often winning over four miles it has a great history. No horse has won the event three times but several have won it on two occasions. Five horses have done so including Omre way back in 1892 and 1893, Buchan, Polyphontes, Mtoto to the most recent Halling in 1995 and 1996.
Sadly, one of the all-time great jockeys Lester Piggott recently passed away. It will be a fitting tribute if there is an acknowledgement of his success in the 2022 Sandown Summer Festival. He is the leading jockey that won the Eclipse Stakes on seven occasions between 1951 and 1977.
Leading trainers to have won the Eclipse Stakes six times include Alec Taylor. Jr, Sir Michael Stoute and Aidan O’Brien, the latter two you may want consider looking for this year, if they have horses running in the 2022 Eclipse Stakes. Trainers Godolphin and Sue Magnier are six-time leading owners so you may want to check out if they have runners as well.
At the Eclipse Stakes last year, it may have been something of a disappointment for the 4,000 spectators when only four horses were to start the race. During the race Addeybb was the horse that set the tone and led from the front. The horse has pedigree in terms of previously winning four Group One races but could not stay out in front as with two furlongs to go the 2020 French Derby winner Mishriff caught up with Addeybb and moved ahead with two furlongs to go.
Mishriff held the position until the final furlong as Ryan Moore was playing the waiting game mounted on St Mark’s Basilica. He pushed the horse on and a turn of speed had St Mark’s Basilica race into the lead and run clear to win by three and a half lengths. It was another successful day for Aidan O’Brien winning the main event at the Sandown Summer Festival 2021.