Sosie sets up Eclipse bid with Prix d’Ispahan strike

set up a Coral-Eclipse challenge as he got on top at the line to reel in Sardinian Warrior in the Prix d’Ispahan at ParisLongchamp.

Andre Fabre’s Prix Ganay winner – who was fourth in last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and was dropping back in trip to a shade over nine furlongs for the first time since his two-year-old days – took time to settle through the early stages.

In contrast, John and Thady Gosden’s Sardinian Warrior tracked leader Caramelito before striking for home under Christophe Soumillon inside the quarter-mile marker.

Sosie had ground to make up, but the further they went the more he looked likely do so and Maxime Guyon was able to celebrate the Group One triumph passing the post.

Confirming Sandown as the target, Fabre told Sky Sports Racing: “The Wertheimer brothers were keen to run him in the Eclipse, so we had to test him over a shorter distance and this (race) was the option.

“I was delighted (with the performance). For a horse who is able go a mile and a half and over, to have speed enough to beat nice horses was the best we could expect.”

Guyon added: “He’s fantastic, he was really strong in the finish. He’s proved he can do everything (trip-wise), he’s a Group One horse and a champion.”

Paddy Power cut Sosie to 8-1 from 10-1 for the Esher feature on July 5.