ARCHIPENKO has been ruled out of tomorrow's Coral-Eclipse. The South African entry, a general 14-1 chance to win the Sandown showpiece, has a swollen fetlock. Juan Nel, assistant to trainer Mike de Kock, said: "It's a race we've been targeting for a long time and it's very hard to take.
"We discovered the problem early this morning and it's a huge disappointment. We haven't had a full prognosis yet, so we're a little bit in the dark in terms of when he'll be back. It's a huge blow, but that's racing."
Archipenko, a Group One winn
er in Hong Kong, was last seen in action on these shores winning the Ascot Summer Mile last July.
A final field of ten is set to go to post for the Group One contest, which is headed by John Oxx's 2000 Guineas and Derby winner Sea The Stars.
Rip Van Winkle, fourth behind Sea The Stars at Epsom, will bid to turn the form around over this shorter trip. He is set to be joined by Ballydoyle stablemates Malibu Bay and Set Sail. Sir Michael Stoute's St Leger and Breeders' Cup Turf hero Conduit spearheads the older generation, with stable companion Lang Shining also taking his chance. Henry Cecil's Twice Over, the Luca Cumani-trained Cima De Triomphe, Steele Tango and Jukebox Jury complete the stellar line-up. Tazeez, Monitor Closely and Westphalia were the other withdrawals at the final declaration stage.
Sea The Stars has been cut to 4-6 favourite from 4-5 by the sponsors. Coral spokesman Simon Clare feels he could be even shorter come post time.
"We are absolutely thrilled at the stellar line-up for our race but the betting public only has eyes, and cash, for one horse, Sea The Stars," said Clare. "We initially offered 5-4 at the start of the week, but he has been backed at all rates down to 4-6.
"The weight of public support on Saturday could well see him start 1-2, or even shorter."
In yesterday's racing, meanwhile, Tony McCoy travelled to Perth and was successful in the opening race on the card, winning the £6,000 Sheep Dip Whisky Novices Hurdle on 4-11 favourite Pengana.
McCoy was aboard Aggie's Lad in the second race, the Simpson Forsyth Novices' Chase, but the former champion jockey had to make do with second place behind 11-4 shot Valerius.
His third and final ride of the day was in Perth's race of the day, the £14,000 Northern Marine Underwriters Scotland Handicap Chase, but Another Ambition was unplaced as Abragante, an 8-1 chance, held off He's A Hotshot and Stagecoach Amber.
At Haydock, meanwhile, Richard Fahey's Rose Blossom got back to winning ways under Paul Hanagan in the EBF Gretsch-Unitas Novice Fillies' Stakes.
Only three rivals lined up against the filly at the Merseyside venue, but 8-11 favourite Rose Blossom, who had stalled after making a successful debut at Hamilton, looked a class apart as she made all the running to win by a length-and-three-quarters from Avonrose.
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