NEWS
Sea The Stars targets Irish Derby
Posted: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 3:39 PM
by Mike Curry
On June 6, Sea The Stars become the first horse to win the opening two legs of the English Triple Crown since Nashwan in 1989 when he accelerated clear to a convincing victory in the Investec Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) at Epsom Downs.
Christopher Tsui’s bay Cape Cross (Ire) colt is scheduled to try for his third classic victory in as many starts this season in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby (Ire-G1) on Sunday at the Curragh. Sea The Stars, winner of the Stanjames.com Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) on May 2, is one of 17 three-year-olds remaining eligible for the 1 1/2-mile Irish Derby at the five-day forfeit stage.
Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O’Brien could challenge Sea The Stars with a trio of horses--Epsom Derby runner-up Fame And Glory, third-place finisher Masterofthehorse, and fifth-place finisher Golden Sword.
Trained by John Oxx, Sea The Stars is expected to be the overwhelming favorite for the Irish Derby. Several news outlets reported during the past two weeks that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum is interested in purchasing Sea The Stars, who is one win away from becoming only the 16th horse to sweep the English Triple Crown in the history of the series.
"Anyone would want a horse like that. We are always looking for good stallions and we will talk to the owner," Sheikh Mohammed told Racing Post during the recently concluded Royal Ascot meeting
The English Triple Crown concludes with the 1¾-mile Ladbrokes St. Leger (Eng-G1) on September 12 at Doncaster. Sea The Stars has an opportunity to become the first English Triple Crown winner since Nijinksy II in 1970 and only the third to accomplish the feat since 1918.
Bred in Ireland by Sunderland Holdings, Sea The Stars is a half brother to European champion and influential sire Galileo (Ire), winner of the 2001 Vodafone Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) and Budweiser Irish Derby (Ire-G1). He is the fourth Group 1 winner produced by his dam, 1993 CIGA Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) winner Urban Sea.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
