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O'Brien looking forward to Stars rematch

Thu 6th Aug 2009, 16:09

Aidan O'Brien is relishing the prospect of a rematch between Sea The Stars and Fame And Glory in the Tattersalls Million Irish Champion Stakes.

John Oxx's all-conquering Sea The Stars had Fame And Glory back in second when supplementing his 2000 Guineas victory with success in the Derby at Epsom, before adding the Coral-Eclipse to his haul.

Fame And Glory has since gone on to land the Irish Derby in Sea The Stars' absence, but O'Brien is not running scared of the undisputed star of the current Classic generation.

"Fame And Glory is very well and came out of the Irish Derby well and the Irish Champion Stakes has been the plan since," he said.

"Dropping back down to 10 furlongs isn't an issue with him, he has so much pace.

"It should be a true test and hopefully the best horse over the distance on the day will win."

Sea The Stars is set to head to York for the Juddmonte International Stakes before making his first appearance on home soil since winning the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh last September.

Oxx said: "He came out of the Eclipse well and he had a little break afterwards.

"We just stepped up his work in the past week, and he is on schedule for the Juddmonte International at York on August 18th.

"After that, the plan is to go to the Irish Champion Stakes. It's a great race, it has a great history, it's at home, it's our Champion Stakes, and we have been lucky enough to win it a couple of times (with Timarida in 1996 and with Azamour in 2004).

"They usually have good ground there and that is important to Sea The Stars. He won his maiden on soft ground and he won the Beresford Stakes last year on yielding ground, but at this level now, he does need good or fast ground.

"He is expected to run to a certain level now and he needs good ground in order to do that.

"He was lucky enough to get his ground in the Guineas, the Derby and the Eclipse, so hopefully it will be the same for the Irish Champion Stakes.

"The opposition is tough, Fame And Glory is a very good horse, a stayer with a turn of foot. It should be a great race."

Sea The Stars and Fame And Glory may be the headline acts but there are plenty of other top-class runners among the possible supporting cast.

O'Brien has also entered Irish 2000 Guineas Mastercraftsman and Sussex Stakes victor Rip Van Winkle but they are set to head for the International and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes respectively.

Sir Michael Stoute has three potential representatives in King George runner-up Tartan Bearer, Princess of Wales's Stakes winner Doctor Fremantle and recent Goodwood winner Zacinto.

Luca Cumani has entered Cima De Triomphe, who contests Saturday's Arlington Million, while Henry Cecil's sole possible is Twice Over.

Jim Bolger sent out New Approach to glory in 2008 and has Gan Amhras this time, while Dermot Weld has entered the Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Casual Conquest and runner-up Famous Name, as well as Mad About You, who goes in the Beverley D Stakes at Arlington this Saturday.