Champion colt Sea The Stars is a firming 4-6 favourite to beat older rivals in the Eclipse Stakes (2000m) at Sandown this Saturday. Bookmakers have even opened a market on how far he will win by.
Sea The Stars (3c Cape Cross – Urban Sea by Miswaki) will be appearing for the first time since winning the G1 English Derby on June 6. He defeated Fame And Glory at Epsom Downs and the runner-up came out and franked that form with a G1 victory in the Irish Derby last weekend.
Sea The Stars bypassed the Curragh classic after trainer John Oxx deemed the ground slower than ideal. The are no such concerns this week with Britain currently in the grip of a heatwave.
“They tell me there’s a chance of some rain at Sandown but I gather it is unlikely to be any great threat to the ground conditions.” Oxx said this week. “Everything is fine with the horse. He did his normal bit of work on Tuesday and I’m very happy with him.”
Sea The Stars became the first horse since Nashwan in 1989 to complete the English 2000 Guineas – Derby double but Oxx revealed the colt will not bid for a Triple Crown clean sweep in the English St Leger at Doncaster on September 12.
A total of ten runners are set to go to post for the Group 1 contest after a late setback ruled out South African star Archipenko. The favourite’s main rivals are:
RIP VAN WINKLE (Galileo) is one of four initial entrants from Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien atb the five-day forfeit stage. He was fourth home in the English 2000 Guineas and Derby. “Dropping back to a mile and a quarter (2000m) should suit him,” jockey Jimmy Fortune said. “I should think he has a great chance.”
CIMA DE TRIOMPHE (Galileo) didn’t fire in the Prix Ganay but then won a thriller in the G3 Brigadier Gerard at Sandown. Trainer Luca Cumani is hopeful of a big run from last year’s Derby Italiano (G1) winner. “He was slightly disappointing Ganay but that form has been boosted by Vision d’Etat winning the Prince of Wales’s at Royal Ascot.”
CONDUIT (Dalakhani) was beaten a nose by Cima De Triomphe when racing first-up in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May. The Sir Michael Stoute four year-old was a G1 winner of the English St Leger and Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) last year.
TWICE OVER (Observatory) is a Juddmonte homebred who won the G2 Prix Eugene Adam at Maisons-Laffitte last year. He was also runner-up to New Approach (beaten six lengths) in the G1 English Champion Stakes. The Henry Cecil trainer was G1 placed in Lockinge Stakes at Newmbury in may and followed up with a one length fourth to Vision d’Etat in the G1 Prince of Wales’s at Royal Ascot.