Constitution River looks the new poster boy for Aidan O'Brien's all-conquering Ballydoyle yard as he stamped his class on Saturday's renewal of the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park.
The son of Wootton Bassett didn't impress everyone when he won the Prix du Jockey Club in workmanlike fashion at Chantilly last time, but he did so from stall 15 and he took his three-year-old record to three from three in Sandown’s most glittering prize. record-extending 10th success in the race for O'Brien, who was winning the race for the fourth consecutive year, while jockey Ryan Moore was winning the Eclipse for the sixth time and he's now just one behind the legendary Lester Piggott in that particular history.
Constitution River was well backed all week and went off a very strong 8/11 favourite, with Moore happy to restrain him in the early stages as stablemate Flushing Meadows set a furious pace as per his role.
Gethin hit the front with Hawk Mountain two furlongs out, but Moore was happy in behind and as he angled his mount out for racing room it was soon all over.
Constitution River hit the front and went clear by a couple of lengths in the blink of an eye, Donnacha O'Brien's A Boy Named Suzie (20/1), ridden cold by Oisin Murphy, the one to come from off the pace and give chase.
There was no chance of Donnacha overhauling his father, though, as Constitution River pulled out more in front and he was a supremely impressive three-length victor at the line.
