Cecil ready to add another chapter to the legend; ECLIPSE POWERBASES.

Byline: HENRY CECIL

IN THE last 40 years, four current trainers have dominated the Eclipse Stakes, winning 15 times between them, and all will be represented in the Coral-sponsored race on Saturday, writes Steve Dennis.

The last 20 years have seen a power struggle between Saeed Bin Suroor, Sir Michael Stoute and Aidan O'Brien, but before them it was Henry Cecil who ruled as king of the Eclipse.

Cecil will forever have a soft spot for the race, for on his lengthy and still lengthening roll of honour it leads all that follow. In his first season with a licence, taking over at Freemason Lodge after several years as assistant to his stepfather Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, he sent out Wolver Hollow to make an immediate impact on the marquee events of the Flat season.

Lester Piggott rode the five-year-old to a two-and-a-half-length victory over star mare Park Top, whose jockey Geoff Lewis rode a race he may still be trying to forget aboard the odds-on shot. In an episode replicated in 1997, when the elegant Gucci loafer was on the other foot with Bosra Sham, Lewis found all the trouble going before extricating his mount too late for her finishing kick to play a part.

The winner's influence was felt again seven years down the line when his son Wollow took the big prize.

Wollow had a little help from the stewards, though, as the Francois Boutin-trained Trepan had passed the post two lengths clear as a worthy winner. The French colt had earlier won the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, but the discovery of theobromine in his system meant that both wins were erased from his record - and Wollow was added to Cecil's.

Two years later Cecil was in the Sandown winner's enclosure again after Gunner B, later sire of Royal Gait and Red Marauder, had repelled all boarders in a hard-fought final furlong before seeing off Balmerino by three-quarters of a length, but in the 30 years since that triumph Cecil has knocked on the door to no avail.

In 1987, his Derby winner Reference Point was outspeeded by Mtoto as that horse claimed the first of his two Eclipse wins, and two years later he sent out Opening Verse (surely the most able 200-1 pacemaker ever) and the brilliant Indian Skimmer to be second and third in yet another 'race of the century' behind Nashwan.

However, it's Bosra Sham's defeat in 1997 that will induce the most rueful of headshakes. The filly, one of Cecil's all-time greats and already winner of the 1,000 Guineas, Champion Stakes and Prince of Wales's Stakes (by eight lengths), was a 4-7 chance to see off four rivals including Derby winner Benny The Dip and Group 1 stalwart Pilsudski.

However, when push came to shove early in the straight, Kieren Fallon first sent her down a blind alley on the inside and then, when he dragged her back to the outside for a little daylight, her trademark burst of acceleration was missing. The best that could be mustered of a bad job was third, a length and three-quarters behind Pilsudski.

This year, Phoenix Tower and Multidimensional will carry Cecil's hopes into battle at Sandown - and in a year with no outstanding contender both will be fancied to end Cecil's 30-year wait for a fourth Eclipse.

Tomorrow: Saeed Bin Suroor

CAPTION(S):

Bosra Sham reigns supreme at Ascot - the Eclipse was a different story