Silvestre De Sousa replaces Jim Crowley for Eminent ride in Coral Eclipse at Sandown
Martyn Meade wasn't certain if Champion jockey Jim Crowley would be available to ride Eminent in the Coral Eclipse and so the decision was made for Silvestre De Sousa, favourite to be this year's Champion jockey, to be booked for the ride.
SILVESTRE DE SOUSA will partner Eminent for the first time in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday.
Reigning champion jockey Jim Crowley has ridden the Frankel colt on each of his four starts to date, but connections have decided to replace him with De Sousa.
Trainer Martyn Meade said: "We don't know for sure whether Jim would be available as obviously he is committed to riding for Sheikh Hamdan (Al Maktoum) and we wanted to have some certainty.
"I discussed it with the owner and we decided that a change might be the way to go.
"Hopefully Silvestre will come and have a sit on the horse this week, that would be the plan.
"All the work is done, so he doesn't need to do any work on him, but hopefully he'll have a sit on him."
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Meade's stable star has finished sixth in the 2000 Guineas and fourth in the Epsom Derby on his two most recent appearances and is in line for a third shot at Group One glory this weekend.
Eminent is one of 16 horses confirmed for the Eclipse, with Barney Roy and Cliffs Of Moher the only two ahead of him in the betting.