SEA THE STARS GRABS FIRST CLASSIC OF THE SEASON

By Graham Potter | Saturday, May 2, 2009

Curragh trainer John Oxx has confirmed that the Epsom Derby is very much on the radar for his 2000 Guineas winner Sea The Stars.

Oxx knows what it takes to win a Derby, having triumphed with Sinndar in 2000. That was a glory year for Oxx as Sinndar became the first horse to land the Epsom Derby, the Irish Derby and the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in the same season.

But Oxx also understands the enormity of the task facing his 2000 Guineas winner as the Guineas / Derby double has not been achieved since Nashwan wrote himself into the record books twenty years ago.

Sea The Stars started at 8-1 to give Oxx his first success in the 2000 Guineas – the first Classic of the season. Mick Kinane, who was winning his fourth 2000 Guineas, did the honours in the saddle, guiding his mount to a 1.50 length victory over the 3-1 favourite Delegator.
Another Irish trained runner, Jim Bolger’s Gan Amhras (15-2) finished third. The Aiden O’Brien trained duo of Rip Van Winkle and Mastercraftsman (7-1) finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Bolger, who was successful in last year’s Derby with New Approach, believes Gan Amhras can reverse the result with See The Stars in the Derby.

"He wants much further, so we're very optimistic he will get the Derby trip," stated Bolger.

Delegator will take a different route. He will not be stepped up in distance at this stage. Trainer Brian Meehan indicated that last month’s Craven Stakes winner would stay at a mile with the St James’s Palace Stakes being a likely target.

See The Stars is a half-brother to dual Derby winner Galileo, who is now an established stallion at Coolmore Stud. Galileo, a son of Sadler’s Wells, was the sire of Makybe Diva’s first foal which was knocked down to trainer Danny O’Brien for $1.5 million a month ago at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

The Epsom Derby will be run on June 6.

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer John Oxx: “There is the question of stamina as there is with any Guineas winner going to the Derby. It’s a big prize. It is a great race and to win it with a Guineas winner is a rare enough thing these days.”