Aidan O’Brien has an impressive record at Coral-Eclipse, with seven victories to his name. His winners list includes notable names such as Giant’s Causeway, Hawk Wing, So You Think, and Paddington. However, O’Brien believes that St Mark’s Basilica, which triumphed over Addeybb and Mishriff in 2021, deserves special recognition.
St Mark’s Basilica's impressive performance against two highly rated older horses caught O’Brien’s attention. Despite the success of Paddington the previous year, O’Brien believes that St Mark’s Basilica’s victory was particularly noteworthy. The influence of Sadler’s Wells as a stallion has been instrumental in O’Brien’s success, with Vincent O’Brien’s Eclipse win 40 years ago serving as a significant milestone.
Although O’Brien’s memories of Sadler’s Wells are from his childhood, he acknowledges the horse’s impact on his career. The Coral-Eclipse holds great prestige for a horse’s career, and O’Brien’s record of success in the race is a testament to his skill as a trainer.