Wonderful Tonight unlikely to line up at Coral-Eclipse Stakes, admits trainer David Menuisier as he looks to keeps his options open ahead of the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in October
- Wonderful Tonight has only a ‘1 per cent chance’ of featuring at Coral-Eclipse
- Trainer David Menuisier is keeping his options open in case ground turns testing
- Wonderful Tonight’s principal target is the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in October
Trainer David Menuisier says it is highly unlikely that Royal Ascot winner Wonderful Tonight will line up in Saturday’s Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown despite being one of only seven entries for the Group One prize.
Menuisier is keeping his options open in case the ground turns testing for his soft-ground loving Hardwicke Stakes winner, or further withdrawals make a shot at the £340,000 first prize too tempting to resist.
The principal seasonal target of dual Group One winner Wonderful Tonight is the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in October, with her next race still more likely to be next month’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
Wonderful Tonight is unlikely to feature at Coral-Eclipse Stakes, says trainer David Menuisier
Menuisier said: ‘It is extremely unlikely she will run, one per cent chance I’d say. We decided to stay in because it is such a ridiculous amount of horses confirmed for such a big race. If the ground gets really dirty we would not want to kick ourselves by not being in the race.’
A throat infection has ruled out Lord North. His training team of John and Thady Gosden still have favourite Mishriff, the 2020 French Derby winner.
Aidan O’Brien has three entries headed by St Mark’s Basilica, winner of this season’s French 2,000 Guineas and French Derby.