A Supersta Aiming for the Stars

After his emphatic Epsom Derby win last week, Sea The Stars the brilliant three year old trained by John Oxx became the first horse since Nashwan, Twenty years ago to complete the 2000 Guineas/Derby double - the question on everyone's lips now of course is where will he go next?

Doubts were expressed plenty of times before the Derby about him getting the mile-and-a half trip at Epsom, even Oxx himself said he was only 50/50. Now, and in spite of his win those doubts still remain with many critics believing that the slow pace set, by Golden Sword in the first half mile of the Derby was designed to suit the Ballydoyle contingent. This is probably true but it also meant that the race was nit truly run and that is suited the speed of 200 Guineas winner.

If this is the case then we can expect to see Sea The Stars next line up in a 10 furlong race, probably against older horses and quite possibly in the Eclipse in July. Oxx was known to have wanted to try his hand in the Irish derby at The Curragh at the end of the month, but even he knows that the ground might not be there to suit and that his horse would be in for a very tough time of it.

Dependent on how he runs next time out, the Arc could become a realistic possibility for him in October but any thoughts of a push for the English Triple Crown should be dismissed now as we are quite sure that the St Leger would prove a distance too far.

Besides horse racing is more about breeding these days and having a 2000 Guineas/Derby winner, who is a half brother to one of the greatest ever stallions, Galileo, in the stable makes Sea The Stars one of the most sought after horses in history. A defeat in the St Leger would ruin his stud value.

Sea The Stars has already been installed as favourite for the Eclipse Stakes, the King George and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, bookmakers believing that if nothing else he is the best three year old in Europe right now, even though the Irish Handicapper rated him only 124, making him only the 6th best Derby winner in the last ten years.

The mediocre rating was bestowed on him largely through the slow time of the Derby and because of fears that those four Ballydoyle horses that came within 2½ lengths of him at Epsom, might get themselves rated too highly.
In conclusion it would appear that Sea the Stars has already become too valuable to race as a four year old and is only likely to have two, possibly three more races before he goes to stud. Those races are likely to be the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown followed by a tilt at the Arc or even the Breeders Cup Classic at the end of October.

Wherever Sea the Stars is next seen and whatever races he runs in for the rest of the season, he is sure to be the short priced favourite, as this horse is very much top class and the skies really are the limit.