LONDON, July 2: Oratorio, trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Kieren Fallon, sprang a 12-1 surprise in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on Saturday, overturning hot 2-5 favourite Motivator, the Epsom Derby winner.

Motivator, the mount of Johnny Murtagh, took up the running midway up the straight but was collared close home and beaten half a length.

Italian raider Altieri (22-1) finished third of the seven runners, a further two and a half lengths away.

In last month’s Derby, Motivator beat 10th-placed Oratorio by more than 25 lengths but over the 400 metres shorter trip of the Eclipse, the Irish challenger turned the tables.

Fallon said: “A mile and a quarter (2 km) here, uphill, was always going to suit him.”

Oratorio, owned by Susan Magnier and Michael Tabor, is likely to be aimed at the big Goodwood and York meetings in the next few weeks.

The Eclipse had been billed originally as a clash between Motivator and French Derby winner Shamardal, trained by Saeed bin Suroor for the Godolphin team.

But Shamardal had to be withdrawn on Friday after suffering fetlock damage and has been retired to stud.—Agencies #