The team behind Conduit are hoping lightning can strike twice in Saturday's Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown.

In 1997, Derby winner Benny The Dip arrived at the Esher venue looking to further enhance his reputation, just as Sea The Stars does tomorrow.

However, the younger horse was outpointed by Pilsudski, trained by Sir Michael Stoute and owned by Ballymacoll Stud, just like Conduit.

Ironically, Mick Kinane rode Pilsudski to victory and he will be on Sea The Stars this time around.

Conduit, already a Breeders' Cup and St Leger winner, reappeared this year in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes where he narrowly failed to concede 7lb to Cima De Triomphe, who reopposes.

"We were obviously very pleased with his first run of the season," said Peter Reynolds, Ballymacoll's racing manager.

"Sir Michael's horses always tend to improve for their first run too so that is a positive.

"John Oxx's horse (Sea The Stars) looks exceptional, there is no doubting that.

"It has not been a concerted effort by us to get a Group One over 10 furlongs into him. Sir Michael has always said this horse is effective over a range of distances - he is not your typical St Leger winner.

"Giving 7lb away to everything the other day, he ran very well over this distance.

"It's not a one-horse race, we are in there with a chance we hope.

"He showed on Derby day last year when he won over 10 furlongs that he has a fine turn of foot.

"We've beaten a Derby winner before in the Eclipse with Pilsudski and ironically that day Mick Kinane rode ours - Pilsudski was a year older though.

"Lang Shining is in there to make the running and it was always our intention to make it a properly run race.

"Richard Hughes rides him and he is riding with so much confidence at the moment and he is a very good judge of pace."

Sea The Stars is bidding to emulate Nashwan, who was the last horse to win the Guineas, Derby and Eclipse in the same season 20 years ago.

Since then four Derby winners have run in the Eclipse - Erhaab, Benny The Dip, Motivator and Authorized - and all have been beaten.