Graham Motion and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners target Coronation Stakes in ‘gesture of unity, of sportsmanship’
Wed 10 June, 2020 GBR International
British-born, Maryland-based trainer Graham Motion and Founder/President of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Aron Wellman, are each looking to set their own Royal Ascot records straight this year, coming together with their Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf winner, Sharing, who is on course for the Group 1 Coronation Stakes on 21st June.
Notably, the pair and their co-owner Gainesway have lined up man-of-the-moment Oisin Murphy, who is on a career high currently after winning the Group 1 QIPCO 2,000 Guineas on Kameko last Saturday 6th June, to take the ride.
Motion has been represented at Royal Ascot on several occasions over the last ten years. In 2013, Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup winner Animal Kingdom contested the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes, but failed to fire. More recently, Miss Temple City represented Motion at three consecutive Royal Ascots, faring best when finishing 4th of 14 in the Coronation Stakes in 2015.
Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, meanwhile, had their colours carried at the Royal meeting in 2012 by Group 3 Albany Stakes hope Judy In Disguise. The British-bred filly, who went on to place in Grade 2 and Grade 3 company in America, finished 10th in the Albany.
In an interview with GBRI filmed on Monday, Motion and Wellman explain why they have risen to the challenge of sending a horse across the Atlantic to Royal Ascot this year in spite of the difficult circumstances.
Wellman says [in video short no.3 below]: ‘Everyone’s feeling the pain of the pandemic and numerous cultural and social issues that are going on in the world and this is sort of a gesture of unity, of sportsmanship and trying to bring the world closer together.’
The trainer and owner also both touch upon how winning at Royal Ascot is a ‘bucket list item’. Motion comments:
‘For me, who grew up in Newmarket, my parents lived in England most of their lives, to come back to Royal Ascot with a legitimate chance, you can’t top that.’
Wellman adds:
‘Owners and partners of ours are becoming more sophisticated. They have an appetite for a more global flavour, so to speak, and as the industry on a global scale is somewhat contracting, the big events, the big days, the big races, that’s really where people want to be and to be able to do that on an international scale would be something that Eclipse is very intent on proving.’
Sharing will arrive in Newmarket next Tuesday (16th June) evening.