BOSRA SHAM was likened to an Amazon, a fearless female warrior of Greek legend, by trainer John Gosden as he forecast victory for the filly in the 100th running of the Eclipse Stakes.
Gosden, who saddles Derby winner Benny The Dip in today's Coral- sponsored showdown at Sandown, described the big race favourite as "an Amazon with a sex allowance".
"I think she will win. She's a champion, but if we run a good race behind her it would not do us any harm," he said.
Gosden made a similar prediction before the Derby by reckoning Entrepreneur would triumph at Epsom provided he stayed and the rest were fighting out for place money.
But Entrepreneur finished only fourth while Benny The Dip defeated Silver Patriarch by a short head to earn the spoils.
Benny The Dip drops back to a mile and a quarter and is the only three- year-old in a field that also includes Breeders' Cup winner Pilsudski, Allied Forces and Sasuru.
He bids to become the 16th Derby winner to land the Group One event and the first since Nashwan in 1989.
"It's a tall order. He's had a Derby preparation and now we are playing a different game. He's not done any of the strong pre-Derby work he did this time," Gosden added.
"The ground would be an issue. It's good to soft with good patches at the moment and any more rain would compromise him.
"You don't get a more elite field than we have tomorrow. It's a horse race and you just like to be in a race like that."
Gosden also indicated that Benny The Dip is likely to end his campaign by running in the Breeders' Cup Turf over a mile and a half at Hollywdod Park on November 7th.
"It's a three-turn mile and a half and a good mile and a quarter horse will get a mile and a half at Hollywood Park," he said.
But there should be no problems for Bosra Sham as Cecil's top-class filly has shown herself as good as ever this season with two wins in two runs.
Bosra Sham began with a comfortable half-length victory over Predappio in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes over the Eclipse course and distance.
And Predappio franked the form when rallying gamely to beat Pilsudski by half a length in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Pilsudski takes on Bosra Sham at Sandown but on a line through the Godolphin horse is not favoured by the weights.
In any case, last season's 1,000 Guineas winner has improved since her seasonal debut judged on a very impressive display in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at the Royal meeting.
Always travelling strongly for Kieren Fallon, the daughter of Woodman shot clear in a matter of strides and trotted up by eight lengths from Alhaarth.
In that sort of form Bosra Sham looks invincible but if there are any chinks in her armour then Derby winner Benny The Dip could be the one to exploit them.
Better value on the card could lie with Hal's Pal in the Kingston Rated Stakes.
