SEA THE STARS SHOWS HIS CLASS FOR HISTORIC ECLIPSE WIN

SEA THE STARS became only the fifth horse since 1900 and the first since Nashwan in 1989 to complete the Eclipse, Derby and 2,000 Guineas treble at Sandown on Saturday.

The contest was run at frantic pace form the off with Lang Shining and Set Sail making the race a true test. The pace failed to upset Sea The Stars who cruised to the leaders before two out. Mick Kinane, riding his fourth Eclipse winner, committed the dual Classic winner shortly after this point and despite the persistent challenge of Rip Van Winkle, he never looked like being caught.

Sea The Stars stayed on relentlessly up the Sandown hill to record victory at odds of 4-7 ahead of Rip Van Winkle who ran a fine race under Jimmy Fortune at 11-2.

Conduit briefly threatened down the outside but did not have the pace of the front pair and finished third at odds of 9-2.

Winning trainer John Oxx was quick to pay tribute to the son of Cape Cross.

He said: "This is what keeps you working. For 19 days out of 20, when you say what are you wasting your time for training racehorses when you can do something easier, these are the moments that keep you going.

"We'll have to have a think about where he goes next. We just go from race to race and we said after the Irish Derby we'd sit down and have a think about the rest of the year, but obviously it is after this race now.

"The Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown would be a major objective for him and we have to figure out what we are going to do in the meantime. There's the King George in three weeks and there is the International at York three weeks after that. He comes through his races well and the horse will have a big say where he goes as we'll see how he comes out of this."

"I can't see him running in two races before the Irish Champion Stakes, I think we'll have to miss one."

Paddy Power cut the winner to 7-2 (from 4s) for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, while William Hill quote Sea The Stars at 5-1 to remain unbeaten throughout 2009. The same firm offer him at 4-6 with a run for the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Winning jockey Mick Kinane added: "He is so quick out of the stalls with his pace and it was almost as if I hit the front too soon today, but it was hard for me to stop him."

"When the second horse came at me, he just picked up. You are never going to win by more than two lengths on him, he just does enough. I was hoping to be in front at the furlong marker because I know he quickens really well."

"You don't get many like him, he has so much early pace it is unbelievable."

Sea the Stars

by Sean McMahon

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