Racing:Aidan O'Brien missed out on a fifth Coral-Eclipse at Sandown this afternoon as Viscount Nelson could only take third spot behind Henry Cecil's Twice Over, his first winner in the 10-furlong race in 32 years.
Cecil joins O’Brien on the four-winner mark after an all-the-way success in the prestigious Group One contest.
Gunner B was Cecil’s last winner back in 1978 and Co Waterford jockey Tom Queally was keen to make sure there was not a repeat of his unlucky run at Royal Ascot by bouncing out of the stalls and making it a test.
The mare Dar Re Mi was shadowing him until three furlongs out when Twice Over accelerated clear and the rest were soon in trouble.
Zacinto never looked like getting involved and it was 33-1 outsider Sri Putra who stayed on strongest of all to chase the 13-8 winner home, eventually going down by half a length, with Viscount Nelson third.
Marcus Tregoning’s Mawatheeq refused to enter the stalls before the race and had to be withdrawn.
Queally said: “There was no pace and if the Gosden filly (Dar Re Mi) had gone on she’d have set slower fractions than I did.
“It was different tactics to Ascot. In the Prince of Wales’s Stakes you wouldn’t have ridden him as boldly as this but he stayed well the last time. He’s a real stable star and it means a lot.”
Cecil said: “Well done to all the staff at Warren Place and Graham Purse who rides him every day. Without them I would not be standing here talking to you.
“We decided this morning if there was no pace or not enough we would gradually let him lengthen, we didn’t want a two-furlong sprint.
“It was a furlong out when he really lengthened and he saw them off. He thought he’d done enough in the end and was looking around him rather than in front.
“It’s great to see him win and whatever anyone says I do think he was unlucky at Royal Ascot.
“Tom gave him a great ride, he’s a great jockey and I look forward to the future years.
“I’m pleased for the Prince (Khalid Abdullah, owner) and it’s a pleasure to train for him. He’s been a very good friend and I’m very lucky.
“Looking ahead there is the Juddmonte International and the Champion Stakes and I would love to win the Dubai World Cup.
“We’ll see how he goes and see what the Prince wants to do as it’s his horse.
“I thought we’d win the Dubai World Cup this year but he was drawn wrong and everything else went wrong, so I’d love to go back there.”
Despite missing out on another Grade One title, O’Brien is happy with the progress of Viscount Nelson: “We’re delighted with that. He’s moving up all the time — every time he runs he gets better and hopefully that will continue. I don’t know where he’ll go next.”