Sea The Stars returned to action on the home front for the first time since his Beresford Stakes success at the Curragh almost a year ago when emphasising just how good he is with an authoritative two and a half length win in the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes.
Mick Kinane oozed confidence on the Cape Cross colt as the Ballydoyle pacemakers cut out a fierce gallop and even when Johnny Murtagh passed by on Fame And Glory on the approach to the straight, the Tipperary legend continued to bide his time.
However the 4/6 favourite was sent in pursuit of Fame And Glory from the quarter mile pole and once given the office over a furlong out the result was soon put beyond doubt. From there he stretched away to win comfortably by two and a half lengths. The other one that counted in the betting, Mastercraftsman finished a further two and a half lengths adrift in third whilst there was a nine length gap back to the fourth, Grand Ducal
Triumphant trainer, John Oxx said: "He is thriving, he is in great form and he came out of York in great form. I was disappointed to have to miss the Irish Derby and it would have been very disappointing to miss this but the ground here was fine.
"He is a great horse, he has a constitution like no other and he won by more than one length today which is unlike him but Mick pushed him out there. He is really tough, he has run every month from May to September and it remains to be seen where we go next.
"The Arc is a distinct possibility but the horse will tell us where we are going. The Champion Stakes at Newmarket is an alternative. Santa Anita may be a bridge too far."
Meanwhile Kinane praised his mount by saying: "I haven't ridden a horse that can do what he does at any distance. He is top of the tree. It is phenomenal how well he can travel."
Bookmaker reaction was to go 2/1 from 5/2 for the Arc (Boylesports). The same firm now go 7/2 from 3/1 about Fame And Glory for the same race.
Sean Graham for the Arc go Sea The Stars 7/4 with Fame And Glory 5/1.
William Hill for the Arc - Sea The Stars 7/4 from 9/2. Fame And Glory 5/1 from 7/2.
The same firm go 2/1 from 7/2 about Sea The Stars for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Paddy Power go Sea The Stars 7/4 (from 4/1) for the Arc whilst they make Fame And Glory 4/1 from 7/2. For the Breeders Cup Classic they go 2/1 from 3/1.
Paddy Power also bet Sea The Stars to RUN in the Arc 4/7, Sea The Stars NOT TO RUN in the Arc 5/4
