TWENTY years ago Halling won the Coral Eclipse Stakes for the second time, in so doing becoming the fifth dual winner of the race which was first run 130 years ago this year. That victory also came on the 20th anniversary of the bookmakers taking over sponsorship of the race.

This year Hawksbill continued his steady climb towards the top of the classic generation with victory, and completes a decade of outstanding results for the race which pitches the classic generation against older horses. Since 2007 the winners of the race read like a who’s who – Notnowcato, Mount Nelson, Sea The Stars, Twice Over, So You Think, Nathaniel, Al Kazeem, Mukhadram and Golden Horn all preceding this year’s winner.