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A couple of famous winners are among the Race History of the 2017 Eclipse Stakes run at Sandown on Saturday.

Fields Of Omagh first came on the scene in 2001 and we may see another in the 2017 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Sandown on Saturday.

2017 ECLIPSE STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Eclipse Stakes is a G3 race run under Quality Handicap conditions for open class horses at Sandown conducted by the Melbourne Racing Club.

The Eclipse Stakes is run over 1800m. It was first run in 1937 and was won by Balkan Prince.

There is a similarly named race but run at the elite level at Sandown in England. The UK race was won by some of the all-time greats including in recent years Golden Horn, So You Think and Sea The Stars.

Caulfield has hosted the race through much of its existence but went to Sandown permanently as part of this meeting from 2004.

The race has been run over so many varied distances. It was as much as a mile and a half but has been settled at 1800m since 2009.

The Eclipse Stakes was a Principal race then Listed Race from 1979 to 1995. It was a Group 3 after that.

Some horses that went onto far, far bigger acclaim after winning the Eclipse Stakes include Fields Of Omagh, Fraar and Super Impose.

They ran the race at Caulfield in 2013.

The Eclipse Stakes is worth $150,000 in 2017.

Notable winners of the Eclipse Stakes include Rothera (2011), Aqua D’Amore (2005), Zazzman (2003), Fields Of Omagh (2001), Gold City (1996), Innocent King (1994), Fraar (1992), Super Impose (1988), Allez Bijou (1983), Leica Lover (1974), Baystone (1956) and Morse Code (1950/1952).

The 2016 Eclipse Stakes was won by Turnitaround from Hugh Church and Lidari.