Passenger shall miss the Eclipse

Passenger, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, will not be competing in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown next week due to his ongoing recovery from an infection that forced him to miss Royal Ascot. The colt had an impressive start to his four-year-old campaign, leading to high expectations for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Ascot before being sidelined by the illness.

With the Eclipse now out of reach, Passenger’s connections are looking ahead to future races for the talented colt. Alan Cooper, racing manager for the Niarchos family, expressed optimism for Passenger’s return to the track after his recent win at Chester and the strong performance of Israr, who validated the form by winning the Wolferton Stakes at Ascot.

While the Juddmonte International at York is a potential target for Passenger, Sir Michael Stoute will ultimately decide on the colt’s next race based on his progress and readiness. Cooper emphasised the importance of letting Passenger recover fully before making any decisions but remains hopeful for his return to top form soon.