Sea the Stars Horse of the Year?

Derby winner Sea The Stars clear in Cartier race



THE Investec Derby and Stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas are already his, and now dual Classic hero Sea The Stars has been revealed as the clear leader in the race to be this year's Cartier Horse of the Year.

Victories at Epsom and Newmarket have amassed the John Oxx-trained star a total of 96 points, leaving him 24 points in front of Sunday's Prix du Jockey Club winner Le Havre, both in the horse of the year and three-year-old colt divisions.

Leading the battle in the three-year-old filly category is Friday's Investec Oaks heroine Sariska, whose 57-point haul is one more than that accrued by French 1,000 Guineas winner Elusive Wave.

3YO FILLY
SARISKA 57
ELUSIVE WAVE 56
AGAIN 48
GHANAATI 48

3YO COLT
SEA THE STARS 96
LE HAVRE 72
SILVER FROST 56
MASTERCRAFTSMAN 48

HORSE OF THE YEAR
SEA THE STARS 96
LE HAVRE 72
SARISKA 57
ELUSIVE WAVE 56
SILVER FROST 56

This is the most magnificant horse Ive seen since I started racing I must say.

Just for you Oscar,

How awesome was that win??

Just watched a 30 minute show on BBCipod was superb meeting

His sire now produced two brilliant offspring,See the Stars and Ouija Board,fancy sending CC for a service R500,000 only...?

Cashmans rate Sea The Stars an odds-on shot to confirm Epsom form with Fame And Glory should they renew rivalry in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh later this month.

Sea The Stars became the first horse for 20 years to complete the 2000 Guineas/Investec Derby double when recording a length and three-quarters verdict over the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt.

And the Cork bookmakers are convinced the supremacy shown by John Oxx's charge is likely to be repeated.

In match betting on the Irish Derby, Sea The Stars is 4-6 to confirm placings with Fame And Glory, who is quoted at 11-10.

"They could run the Epsom Derby 100 times and you'd get the same result each and every time no matter what way the race panned out," said Cashmans' spokesman Joe Burke.

"Looking forward to the Irish Derby, Sea The Stars has everything and he'd be favourite in a match bet with any three-year-old on the planet at the moment from seven furlongs to one and a half miles."

O'Brien horses also occupied third (Masterofthehorse), fourth (Rip Van Winkle) and fifth (Golden Sword) slots at Epsom. The Ballydoyle trainer told At The Races: "We were obviously very disappointed we didn't win it but we were very happy because all our horses ran well.

"Mick (Kinane) gave the winner a great ride on the day.

"Everybody has an opinion but the reality is we won't really know what could have happened if circumstances were different.

"All we can hope for is that the horses are healthy in three weeks' time (Irish Derby) and see if anybody has doubts or concerns after this race.

"All those that ran at Epsom and Chantilly are in the mix for the Curragh, the Eclipse and the new French Derby (Grand Prix de Paris) at Longchamp.

"Rip is one of those very special workers at home with a high cruising speed, when he gets into fifth gear his body slows down and he finds it easy.

"Sometimes in races that have a muddling pace he never gets into fifth gear. Johnny (Murtagh) said he was only getting to top gear at the line at Epsom. Hopefully some day we'll get it right with him."

Sea The Stars works well in Irish Derby prep


DUAL Classic hero Sea The Stars was on Sunday reported in good order by trainer John Oxx, with the weather forecast likely to be favourable as he contemplates running the superstar in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh next weekend.


Oxx said of the Stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas and Investec Derby winner: "Sea The Stars worked on Saturday morning. He did what he usually does, and all went well.

"He will be left in the race at the final forfeit stage on Tuesday, and the forecast for the week is reasonably good, which is good news.But we will wait and see what the week brings."

Should Sea The Stars receive the go-ahead for Sunday's Classic, he will again oppose a big team from Ballydoyle, including Fame And Glory and Masterofthehorse, who were second and third at Epsom.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien said on Sunday: "We usually have a quite a few runners and I'd imagine Fame And Glory, Masterofthehorse, Golden Sword, and the others we ran at Epsom, will be left in on Tuesday."

Can`t wait until the Curragh! he will look even more impressive on a track were he is alowed to stride..

SUNDAY'S Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh was reduced to 17 possible contenders following Tuesday's forfeit stage with Investec Derby hero Sea The Stars heading Paddy Power's betting as 4-6 favourite.

Aidan O'Brien is responsible for ten possible runners in the 1m4f Classic including the Epsom second, third and fifth - Fame And Glory, Masterofthehorse and Golden Sword.

The Jim Bolger-trained Gan Amhras, eleventh behind Sea The Stars in the Derby, is joined by stablemate Ard Na Greine while Loch Long (TraceyCollins), Recharge (Kevin Prendergast) and The Bull Hayes (Jessica Harrington) complete the field. Mourayan, a stablemate of Sea The Stars, also lines up.

The one notable absentee is Ballydoyle's Rip Van Winkle, who is likely to reappear the following weekend in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

Paddy Power: 4-6 Sea The Stars, 11-4 Fame And Glory, 4 Masterofthehorse, 12 Gan Amhras, 16 Mourayan, Recharge, 50 Drumbeat, Freemantle, The Bull Hayes, 100 Ard Na Greine, 200 Hail Caesar, Malibu Bay, Rockhampton, 500 Byzantine, Loch Long, Set Sail

Sea The Stars among 48 entries for International


DUAL Classic winner Sea The Stars is among a top-class 48 entries for the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York on August 18.

Sea The Stars followed up his Stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas win with a stunning success in the Investec Derby and trainer John Oxx believes the 1m2f race fits in perfectly with his plans for the son of Cape Cross.

"York is a distinct possibility because it is very likely that he will have a mile and a quarter campaign," said Oxx.

"The Juddmonte International would be high on the list and he is a summer horse who wants top of the ground. There is every chance that we would keep him going over the summer."

Aidan O'Brien is responsible for 20 of the entries including Derby second Fame And Glory, while Ghanaati, winner of the Stanjames.com 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes, is also engaged.

Oxx may delay Sea The Stars decision till Sunday

CONNECTIONS of Sea The Stars on Friday warned that a decision over the dual Classic winner's participation in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby may be left until as late as Sunday morning.


The Investec Derby winner touched even-money on Betfair on Thursday afternoon amidst speculation that trainer John Oxx might scratch his star colt from the Curragh Classic, despite saying he was happy with the ground after walking the track that morning.



Consequently principle market rival Fame And Glory was further backed, with Skybet going as short as 2-1 for the Ballydoyle colt to claim his own Classic, having finished runner-up to Sea The Stars at Epsom.

Oxx said: "I found the ground to be very good in the straight and good to firm on the round course. As it is, the ground is fine for Sea The Stars, but the forecast has changed and instead of it being unlikely that showers will hit the Curragh, it is now most likely that there will be showers in the area tonight and on Friday.


"Depending on whether those showers arrive and, if they do, whether they are heavy or prolonged, the ground in the straight could be altered easily enough. Sea The Stars will be declared on Friday morning and we will see what happens with the weather. It could be as late as Sunday morning before a decision is made."

Derby third Masterofthehorse was cut half a point to 7-2 by Boylesports on Thursday after it was confirmed that SeamieHeffernan will ride the son of Sadler's Wells on Sunday.

Heffernan rode Fame And Glory to finish second in the Epsom Classic and that colt is Johnny Murtagh's pick for Sunday's race.

Colm O'Donoghue will continue his association with the third of Ballydoyle's possibles, Golden Sword, on whom he won the Chester Vase before finishing fifth on the colt in the Derby. O'Brien will confirm his other running and riding plans for Sunday's big race on Friday morning.

Gan Amhras will be Jim Bolger's only runner in Sunday's Classic as Ard Na Greine, who was being aimed at the race following his win in the Listed Martin Molony Stakes at Limerick a week ago, has been sold.

Bolger said: "Ard Na Greine has been sold. The deal has been completed and he will continue his career in Hong Kong."

Declan McDonogh will ride The Bull Hayes, a first Irish Derby runner for trainer Jessica Harrington.