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Originally Posted by brockguy
wow - just read soumillion replaces peslier on ouija. I love christophe but I dot think he'll suit the filly. Also, the english media seem intent to "get" soumillion so losing on their horse Ouija Board would be awful for him!
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Just read it too..... good point.
Here's the article from Racing Post (witn NO mention of Ace)...
Nice odds on Hattan, by the way. Best of luck!
Yet another new name in the Ouija saddle
by Jon Lees
OUIJA BOARD will have yet another new name inthe saddle on Saturday after trainer Ed Dunlop was on Tuesday forced to turn to Belgian Christophe Soumillon to take the ride in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes because of the unavailability of Olivier Peslier.
In what will be the ninth different jockey on the mare’s back in her 18th race, French champion Soumillon will link up with the Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner at Sandown.
Peslier was pencilled in to continue aboard Lord Derby’s star after the pair clicked so successfully at Royal Ascot - the riderhaving been called up due to other partners Kieren Fallon, Frankie Dettori and Jamie Spencer each having other commitments.
Yet on Tuesday Peslier too was ruled out by contractual obligations to the Wertheimer family at Deauville to join Fallon, tied to Aidan O’Brien if free to ride in the race, Dettori and Spencer on a star-studded list of unavailable jockeys.
“It’s a great shame that I can’t ride Ouija Board as she won very well last time,” said Peslier. “She is a lovely filly and I think she has a very good chance but I obviously can’t ride her because I have a contract with the Wertheimers.”
Dunlop said on Tuesday: “Olivier Peslier has engagements for the Wertheimers but I have now heard that Mr Soumillon is available so we have booked him.
“Ouija Board seems very versatile and I am sure Mr Soumillon will get on with her. He is not only a world class rider but he has had the benefit of having ridden against her, just like Olivier Peslier.”
Soumillon was aboard Shirocco when the Breeders’ Cup winner proved too strong for Ouija Board in the Coronation Cup and rode third placed Manduro in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. He will not sit on the mare before Saturday.
Dunlop added: “Ouija Board did her final piece of work on Monday, which I was happy with, and as long as she is okay in the meantime, she will be declared to run.” Ouija Board is 7-4 second favourite behind David Junior with the sponsors Coral, who on Tuesday trimmed Aussie Rules to 8-1 (from 10).
Among the outsiders set to take their chance are Hattan and Royal Alchemist, available at 66-1 and 100-1, the former bidding to win a prize Clive Brittain captured with Pebbles in 1985.
“He’s in great form,” said Brittain. “He didn’t have arace in Milan. His saddle slipped after a furlong and he just had a canter round. We are very pleased with him and he’s a very good horse. He’ll be underrated as usual but believe me I don’t underrate him - that’s the most important thing.”
Royal Alchemist is set to take her chance after running third to Soviet Song in the Windsor Forest Stakes. “We’ve always had it in our minds that we would take our chance in this Group 1,” said trainer Mark Usher. “She’s very tough, she’s very game. There’s a chance of some rain and we would hope for some. All things being equal we’ll probably let her take her chance. She’s in good form at the moment.”
Sandown's going remains good to firm after a dry day on Tuesday, and the course will decide on Wednesday with showers forecast whether to water again on Thursday.
Clerk of the course Andrew Cooper said: "We have a forecast where we could see some showers, some potentially heavy, in the area anytime on Wednesday, but as is usual some areas will remain dry while others will be wet.
"The showers could be thunderstorms involving some quite beefy showers and we could get a couple of millimetres or we could get 50mm.
"Thereafter, it should predominantly be dry with the chance of further scattered showers on Thursday and a weak wet weather front on Friday with no great quantity of rain. Basically it will be unsettled and will get a bit cooler.
"As far as watering goes, we will decide today when we have greater confidence after weknow how much rain we've had."