SEA The Stars is virtually unopposable in his quest to win the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown today.
Plenty was expected of this son of Cape Cross, being a half-brother to the brilliant Galileo, and he has proved to be every bit as good, winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket before allaying any stamina doubts in the Derby at Epsom.
Ominously for his rivals, it could be that this mile and a quarter is actually his optimum trip, and the lightning-fast conditions at Sandown should also play to his strengths.
Last year’s St Leger and Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Conduit could provide most resistance, but it is hard to see him having the same turn of foot as John Oxx’s brilliant charge.
Derby winners do not have a good record in recent renewals of the Eclipse, but none of them had previously shown enough speed to win a Guineas.
Sea The Stars really does look every inch a superstar.
The sprinters take centre stage in the Coral Charge and it is worth taking a chance on Cumani’s Greek import Ialysos to bounce back from a disappointing effort at Royal Ascot.
The five-year-old was simply untouchable in his native land and although the opposition he faced there is probably questionable, some of the times he turned in over the minimum distance show he is certainly no slouch.
He was a narrow winner of a Listed event at Haydock on his first start on British soil but then looked all at sea in a rough renewal of the Golden Jubilee.
The experience of running in such a big field at pace may have taught Ialysos a thing or two.
With this stiff five furlongs right up his street, he should be involved in the finish.
High Heeled ran a mighty race to finish third in the Oaks at Epsom and a slight drop in class should see her regain her winning thread at Haydock.
Barry Hills’ filly was mightily impressive at Newbury in April then appeared to have her limitations exposed in the Musidora at York.
However, she proved that run to be all wrong when going down by less than three lengths to Sariska in Classic company and a reproduction of that should see her take the bet365 Lancashire Oaks.
Miss Kittyhawk was not disgraced on her Newmarket debut and can be backed with confidence to get off the mark in the Downs View Farm Maiden Stakes at Brighton tomorrow.
The daughter of Hawk Wing was not particularly well fancied for that racecourse introduction at Headquarters but, after being held up in the early stages, she stayed on strongly to finish third without ever really troubling the leaders.
That was a fair effort, considering she came from well off the pace, and hailing from a yard that does particularly well with fillies, she will not have to improve greatly to take this.
Lady Florence won with her head in her chest at the seaside venue this week and looks a good thing to follow up under a penalty.
The four-year-old seems to be at her best round here as only once has she finished out of the first two in five starts at the track.
After a couple of decent placed efforts, she deserved her recent success in selling company and although she is stepping back up in class, this race will not take much winning.
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