Sea The Stars & Fame And Glory All Set for Eagerly Anticipated Showdown
-When Derby Heroes Collide…
The re-match is on. After all the hyperbole and all the posturing, the most anticipated clash of the season, and probably of the decade, between Sea The Stars and Fame And Glory in Saturday’s Group 1 Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown is now just five days away. And after this morning’s final entries, 11 horses are still in the race and both of the main protagonists are bang on track.
The only time that this pair have met to date, in the Epsom Derby in early June, it was the John Oxx-trained Sea The Stars who came out on top, his searing turn of foot taking him home a length and three quarters clear of runner-up Fame And Glory. Unsurprisingly, that was the only time that Derrick Smith’s colt has tasted defeat in six runs. Winner of a Group 1 contest in France as a juvenile, the son of Montjeu won the Ballysax Stakes and the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial over Saturday’s course and distance in the early part of this season. On his only run since Epsom, he put in the best performance of his career to win the Irish Derby at The Curragh as easily as he liked. He hasn’t raced since, but he is an improving colt, and he goes into Saturday’s race a fresh horse. This race has been his target since the Irish Derby, and you can be sure that Aidan O’Brien will have him primed to run for his life.
Sea The Stars has been busier. After his Epsom Derby heroics, Christopher Tsui’s colt took on the older horses in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, and won well, beating Fame And Glory’s stable companion Rip Van Winkle into second place. Then he went to York 12 days ago, took on another top class Ballydoyle colt in Mastercraftsman in the Juddmonte International, and beat him as well. The son of Cape Cross is the highest-rated horse in training and, like O’Brien, John Oxx has also had the Irish Champion Stakes on his radar for some time, ground permitting. This has the potential to be one of the great races.
Aidan O’Brien has left five other horses in the race at this stage, including Juddmonte International runner-up Mastercraftsman, a quadruple Group 1 winner himself, while Dermot Weld is represented by Casual Conquest and Famous Name, first and second in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh earlier this year. The 11-strong line-up is completed by the Charles O’Brien-trained Lord Admiral and the Tracey Collins-trained Loch Long.
The other Group 1 contest on a day that is stacked with top quality racing, the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes, sees a strong two-pronged raiding party in the shape of the John Gosden-trained Rainbow View, last year’s outstanding juvenile filly and second in the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on her most recent run, and the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Heaven Sent, beaten just a half a length by the outstanding French filly Goldikova in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting. The home defence is headed by David Wachman’s Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Again, and the Dermot Weld-trained Mad About You, winner of the Gladness Stakes earlier this season, and not beaten far in the Grade 1 Beverley D Stakes at Arlington Park in Chicago on her most recent start.
Leopardstown’s General Manager, Mr. Tom Burke said: “The ground at the moment is ‘good’ and ‘good to firm’ in places. The forecast for the next few days is for showery conditions with sunny spells. We are very happy with conditions at the moment and are looking forward to an exceptional day.”
The 11 horses left in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes are:- Casual Conquest, Fame and Glory, Famous Name, Grand Ducal, Long Loch, Lord Admiral, Mastercraftsman, Red Rock Canyon, Rockhampton, Sea The Stars & Set Sail. For more info log onto:-http://www.goracing.ie/Content/HRI/HRIData/hriracecard.aspx?rid=94864&div=0
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Drink Gorgeous and Dress Gorgeous with Lipton Fruit & Herbal at the
Irish Champion Stakes
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Lipton Fruit & Herbal Tea has been announced as the new Sponsor for the Best Dressed Lady competition at the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown next Saturday. The overall winnerwill take home a €5,000 shopping spree for some of the most stylish boutiques in Dublin including Lara, Anastasia, Fran & Jane and Pink Champagne. The runner up will also receive a magnificent weekend stay in Monart, Ireland’s premier luxury spa.
The Best Dressed Lady will be judged by ‘Total Xposure’ winner Sean Munsanje and Lipton Fruit and Herbal Tea, Brand Manager, Grainne Galvin. They will select 10 of the most stylish ladies to join them on the catwalk where 3 finalists will be called forward before entering the parade ring where the overall winner will be crowned.
Not only will the ladies attending be in with a chance to win these fantastic prizes but they will also get the chance to view the latest fashions from each of these fabulous boutiques during the ‘Drink Gorgeous with Lipton Catwalk Shows’.
Lipton will host a series of fashion shows on the day, as well as offering samples and gorgeous goody bags to thirsty racegoers.
Leopardstown will celebrate this All Ireland Championship weekend with a series of interviews hosted by TV3’s Denis Kirwan taking place in the parade ring between races.
Denis will be chatting to Irish Sporting heroes such asformer Irish international footballer, and the current chairman of Sunderland AFC Niall Quinn, Grand Slam and Heineken Cup winner and Lions full back Rob Kearney,World Championship gold medalistEamonn Coughlin, former Wexford Hurling Manager Liam Griffin and Tyrone Football Manager Mickey Harte.
Continuing our champions theme, Vintage Crop, trained by Dermot Weld who was the first European horse to win the Melbourne Cup in 1993 will parade after the 2nd race.