Nathaniel was making his season return in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown

PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos), BY PETER SCARGILL 3:49 PM 7 JUL 2012

Report: Sandown, Saturday

Coral-Eclipse (Group 1) 1m2f, 3yo+

NATHANIEL battled and battled all the way to the post as favourite Farhh found last year’s King George VI and Queen Elizabeth winner an impassable object.

Providing the unstoppable team of trainer John Gosden and William Buick with another big-race win, Nathaniel was making his season return but still had too much for the rest.

Having missed the first part of the season through various niggles and hold-ups, Nathaniel was expected to benefit from the run by Gosden and Buick settled the handsome son of Galileo just behind pacemaker City Style.

Dettori meanwhile dropped anchor on Farhh, deceptively wearing the second colours of Godolphin with a white cap, and sat towards the back of the field and let the action unfold in front of him.

Rounding the turn for home Buick decided City Style had been in front long enough and kicked his mount clear in the straight – his fitness uncertain as he opened a gap on the chasing pack.

Cityscape and Crackerjack King went in pursuit of the leader and were found wanting but Dettori was working his way through on Farhh, the runners parting to give him the clear passage he was denied at Royal Ascot.

Hard, fast and determined Dettori and Farhh went at Nathaniel, getting up to his quarters, his neck and then retreating as the leader found extra reserves in front to cross the line half a length to the good. Twice Over ran through for third.

William Buick praised John GosdenPICTURE: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Nathaniel’s success completed a memorable afternoon for his owner Lady Rothschild, who shares ownership of the Eclipse winner with Newsells Park Stud, after the victory of Nathaniel’s sister Great Heavens in the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock.

Buick praised Gosden after the race, saying: “It’s fantastic it’s going so well but that was a fantastic training performance from John Gosden. To get this horse here and in the shape he was in, it’s a credit to John. It was a real good training performance and the credit should go to him.

“He’s got real quality, he showed today what a good horse he is and I’ve always had a lot of faith in the horse. He’s beat a good bunch of horses and he’s showed his versatility today in a top-class mile and a quarter race. All being well, he’ll go back for the King George.”

William Hill cut Nathaniel to 3-1 (from 11-2) to complete back-to-back successes at Ascot, while Paddy Power make him a 5-2 chance (from 9-2). Paddy Power also cut him to 8-1 (from 20) for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Farhh stepped up on his third at Royal Ascot to finish second and trainer Saeed Bin Suroor said: “He ran very well. He was beaten by a better horse on the day but he tried really hard.

“There’s no plan but we’ll keep him to the same distance for Group 1 races.”

Twice Over, who won the Eclipse in 2010, claimed third this time around and Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah said: “We’re delighted with him, he ran a blinder. I’m not sure where he’ll go next.”

Abdullah was also represented by Cityscape, who ran well before fading, and Grimthorpe added: “He didn’t quite stay. He’ll come back to a mile but if Frankel goes for the Sussex Stakes he won’t take him on. The Prix Jacques le Marois could be an option.”

Racingpost.