Sea the Stars not certain for Breeders’ Cup; Youmzain to
race on
Christopher Tsui’s brilliant SEA THE STARS (Cape Cross [Ire]) has emerged
from Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) without any problems, but
connections are not certain to head to Santa Anita. Trainer John Oxx revealed
Monday that a tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) was initially seen only as
a fallback if the homebred had been forced to sidestep Longchamp.
“We haven’t had any discussion about America yet and we’re not ruling it out,
but I think it was primarily in the owner’s mind if he had missed the Arc for
some reason,” his trainer commented. “He would then have had a nice interval
between the Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1) and the Breeders’ Cup, so whether we
would now go for a seventh race for the seventh month running I don’t know. It’s
a bit late in the year, I must say, so we are not going to rush into a
decision.”
Sea the Stars was back in his box at home Monday morning and he was reported
in fine order.
“He’s fine this morning and ate all his feed,” Oxx added. “Obviously, he’s a
bit tired after the previous day but has had a lead-out this morning. Mick
Kinane said it was his easiest win and had also said that at Leopardstown last
time.”
Meanwhile, YOUMZAIN (Sinndar) is set to remain in training in 2010 following
his third consecutive runner-up finish in Sunday’s Arc. Beaten two lengths by
Sea the Stars in the Longchamp feature, the six-year-old has an international
campaign planned in the immediate future.
“He will be here next year, he has to be, but first we will look at the
(October 17) Canadian International (Can-G1) and then the (November 29) Japan
Cup (Jpn-G1),” trainer Mick Channon commented.