Sea The Stars set to take final step into greatness

History maker: victory for Sea The Stars in Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will confirm John Oxx’s colt as one of the best
Simon Milham13 April 2012

Luck in running is crucial at Longchamp. As Sea The Stars bids for more glory in Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, trainer John Oxx is rightfully concerned by the large number of horses who will line up against the brilliant colt.

The three-year-old has blazed a trail at the top level all summer, winning all five of his Group 1 races from a mile to a mile and a half.

Oxx is worried that this son of Cape Cross is going to find his path blocked at a crucial moment.

He said: "A big field is the headache with the Arc, you're never quite sure what's going to happen. The draw comes into it, you don't really want a particularly low draw.

"I don't mind too much where he is through the race, just getting a clear run when he wants it is probably the critical thing."

The interesting thing is what he did not say.

Horses on any level are difficult to produce at the peak of their powers for any extended length of time and SEA THE STARS (3.15, BBC2) has been in serious work since early May.

Yet Oxx does not appear the least bit concerned that his colt is going to the well once too often, despite not having shirked a challenge.

Unlike the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Conduit, this 12-furlongs is not his optimum trip. He is virtually bomb-proof over 10 furlongs.

But any doubts over the Sea The Stars' ability to see out a mile and a half were erased when he beat Fame And Glory by a length and three-quarters in the Derby.

Though his father was a speedball, he gets plenty of stamina from his mother Urban Sea, who won the Arc in 1993.

Victory in Paris will rightfully put Sea The Stars among the all-time greats such as Dancing Brave, Mill Reef and Brigadier Gerard.

The best ones save a bit for themselves and Sea The Stars has never won by much.

He is also a relaxed type, so the preliminaries won't faze him. Crucially, he is tactically versatile and has vastly experienced Mick Kinane as his partner.

Timeform rate him 7lb ahead of Fame And Glory, who chased him home in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last time, and a further 3lb ahead of the pick of the older brigade, which includes King George winner Conduit.

Perhaps the biggest compliment paid to Sea The Stars comes from Lester Piggott. The 11-time champion jockey compares him to Nijinsky, whom he partnered to win the Triple Crown 39 years ago.

"Sea The Stars is one of the best I've seen," he said. "He is comparable to Nijinsky, as he has it all, speed, stamina and lots of class. He should win but unless it rains I can't see what's going to stop him."

How can you argue with that?

Tomorrow's Longchamp TV tips

2.40 Goldikova, 3.15 Plumania, 3.45 Reggane, 4.20 Famous Name

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