Eclipse for Sea The Stars after rain sinks Irish Derby plan
Sunday 28 June 2009
Related articles
Derby winner Sea The Stars will be aimed at Saturday's Eclipse at Sandown after rain, and the Curragh's watering policy, scuppered his chance of running in today's Irish Derby.
His trainer John Oxx said: "There is no way we will have the good, fast ground he likes so the Eclipse is now the plan." In the absence of Sea The Stars questions must be asked about clerks of the courses' keenness to water, and not only at the Curragh. Erroneously they think it is unacceptable to race on firm ground so turn on the taps and are then left with unseasonably soft ground when rain arrives.
Sea The Stars' jockey Mick Kinane will now ride Mourayan, also trained by Oxx and an 8-1 shot. Fame And Glory, beaten a length and three-quarters by Sea The Stars at Epsom, is the 11-10 favourite to go one better today and give trainer Aidan O'Brien, responsible for six of the now 11 runners, his seventh win in the Classic and his fourth on the trot.
For the first time since 1957 the Irish Derby is an all-home affair but their big race yesterday, the Group One Pretty Polly Stakes, went to a British-trained challenger in the shape of John Gosden's Dar Re Mi, who held off Beach Bunny by a short head.
At Newcastle, the Northumberland Plate, aka the Pitmen's Derby, was won by Som Tala who proved to be a goldmine for those punters who backed the Mick Channon-trained hope from 25-1 to 16-1.
Channon's Youmzain contests the Prix de Saint-Cloud in Paris today. It is his 15th consecutive Group One race and, although he has only won one of them, he has had a lot of close misses including going down a nose in Epsom's Coronation Cup last time.
Latest in Sport
Sport blogs
iBet: A tight game between Northampton and Bradford
A tight game could be in prospect here. Northampton have been keeping things very tight of late and ...
by Gareth Purnell
18 May 2013 02:01 AM
On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: Feeling ill and racing in the rain must be pretty grim
I can’t ever watch games of football or rugby without wistfully wondering what it must be like to be...
by Martin Ayres
16 May 2013 05:10 PM
PSG and the French league must be more proactive in dealing with hooliganism
Since PSG’s exit to Barcelona in the Uefa Champions League quarter-final in April, PSG have been sur...
by Matthew Riding
15 May 2013 02:37 PM
-
Tears and cheers as David Beckham ends glittering career after helping PSG to final win
-
Video: Emotional David Beckham leaves the pitch for 'the last time' with PSG
-
Tottenham face nail-biting finish as Arsenal look to secure Champions League place on final day of the Premier League season
-
Boxing: Carl Froch slams fellow Brits for sparring with Mikkel Kessler
-
Newcastle v Arsenal: Premier League match preview
- 1 Heading for America? Prepare for the longest US immigration queues ever
- 2 Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?
- 3 You thought Ryanair's attendants had it bad? Wait 'til you hear about their pilots
- 4 'Swivel-gate': David Cameron goes to war with the press over 'swivel-eyed loons' slur
- 5 It’s official: thanks to Stephen Hawking's Israel boycott, anti-Semitism is no more
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Independent Dating
Career Services
iJobs General
Teaching Programme Officer with Qualified Teacher Status
£28000 - £31500 per annum + benefits: Randstad Education Newcastle: Permanent ...
SAP FI-CA Consultant - up to £58k
£50000 - £58000 per annum + Benefits and Bonus: Progressive Recruitment: SAP F...
PHP/ Drupal Developer - £35k - WC
£30000 - £40000 per annum + BENS: Progressive Recruitment: Drupal Developer A ...
C# WEB DEVELOPER
£45000 - £50000 per annum + bens: Progressive Recruitment: C# WEB DEVELOPER Le...
Day In a Page
The price of pacifism
Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond
Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?
Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'
Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes
Gordon Ramsay's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save




Comments